In dieser Masterarbeit wurde der Frage nachgegangen, wie sich der Ikonizitätsgrad von Bildsymbolen, d.h. die wahrgenommene Ähnlichkeit eines Bildsymbols mit seiner realen Referenz, auf das Symbolverständnis von Kindern im Alter von 4 bis 5 Jahren auswirkt. Konkret wurden drei Ikonizitätsgrade (niedrig, mittel, hoch) und ihre Auswirkungen auf das Erreichen repräsentationaler Einsicht, d.h. der Erkenntnis, dass ein Symbol für etwas anderes als sich selbst steht, untersucht. Diese Frage wurde mit Hilfe eines einfaktoriellen, dreistufigen Between-Subject-Experimentaldesigns untersucht. Als Versuchsaufbau diente eine adaptierte Suchaufgabe, die auf der Arbeit von Judy S. DeLoache basiert. Darüber hinaus wurde der Frage nachgegangen, wie das Erreichen repräsentationaler Einsicht mit anderen kognitiven Fähigkeiten zusammenhängt. Die Ergebnisse zeigten, dass Kinder Schwierigkeiten haben, abstrakte Bildsymbole mit niedrigem Ikonizitätsgrad zu erfassen. Darüber hinaus konnte ein Zusammenhang zwischen dem Erreichen repräsentationaler Einsicht und der medialen Zeichenkompetenz sowie der Fähigkeit zur Metaphernbildung nachgewiesen werden. / This Master’s thesis investigated the question of how the degree of iconicity of picture symbols, i.e. the perceived similarity of a picture symbol with its real reference, affects the symbol understanding of children aged 4 to 5 years. Specifically, three levels of iconicity (low, medium, high) and their effects on the achievement of representational insight, i.e. the recognition that a symbol stands for something other than itself, were investigated. This was investigated with the help of a one-factorial, three-level between-subjects experimental design. The design of the experiment was an adapted object retrieval task based on the work of Judy S. DeLoache. In addition, the question of how the achievement of representational insight is related to other cognitive abilities was investigated. The results showed that children have difficulties in grasping abstract picture symbols with a low degree of iconicity. Furthermore, representational insight was found to be related to media sign literacy and the ability to form metaphors.

Objective: To study awareness of cognitive dysfunction in patients with very mild Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and subjects with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Methods: A complaint interview covering 13 cognitive domains was administered to 82 AD and 79 MCI patients and their caregivers. The patient groups were comparable according to age and education, and Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores were ≥24 in all cases. The discrepancy between the patients’ and caregivers’ estimations of impairments was taken as a measure of anosognosia. Results: Self-reports of cognitive difficulties were comparable for AD and MCI patients. However, while in comparison to caregivers MCI patients reported significantly more cognitive impairment (p < 0.05), AD patients complained significantly less cognitive dysfunctions (p < 0.001). Conclusions: While most MCI patients tend to overestimate cognitive deficits when compared to their caregiver’s assessment, AD patients in early stages of disease underestimate cognitive dysfunctions. Anosognosia can thus be regarded as a characteristic symptom at a stage of very mild AD (MMSE ≥24) but not MCI. Accordingly, medical history even in mildly affected patients should always include information from both patient and caregiver. / Dieser Beitrag ist mit Zustimmung des Rechteinhabers aufgrund einer (DFG-geförderten) Allianz- bzw. Nationallizenz frei zugänglich.

Objective: To study awareness of cognitive dysfunction in patients with very mild Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and subjects with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Methods: A complaint interview covering 13 cognitive domains was administered to 82 AD and 79 MCI patients and their caregivers. The patient groups were comparable according to age and education, and Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores were ≥24 in all cases. The discrepancy between the patients’ and caregivers’ estimations of impairments was taken as a measure of anosognosia. Results: Self-reports of cognitive difficulties were comparable for AD and MCI patients. However, while in comparison to caregivers MCI patients reported significantly more cognitive impairment (p < 0.05), AD patients complained significantly less cognitive dysfunctions (p < 0.001). Conclusions: While most MCI patients tend to overestimate cognitive deficits when compared to their caregiver’s assessment, AD patients in early stages of disease underestimate cognitive dysfunctions. Anosognosia can thus be regarded as a characteristic symptom at a stage of very mild AD (MMSE ≥24) but not MCI. Accordingly, medical history even in mildly affected patients should always include information from both patient and caregiver. / Dieser Beitrag ist mit Zustimmung des Rechteinhabers aufgrund einer (DFG-geförderten) Allianz- bzw. Nationallizenz frei zugänglich.