This dissertation investigates the complex interplay of age, sex and physiological responses to attentional tasks in childhood, employing heart rate and heart rate variability (HRV) as measures of the autonomic nervous system (ANS), and periodic electroencephalogram (EEG) alpha power and the aperiodic EEG measure of exponent of the spectral slope to assess central nervous system (CNS) activity. Through meticulous analysis of neurophysiological data, this study unveils developmental trajectories and sex-specific disparities in attentional processes. Initial examinations reveal age-related fluctuations in ANS and CNS responses, highlighting the dynamic nature of childhood neurodevelopment. Furthermore, sex-stratified analyses unveil distinct patterns of response, emphasizing the importance of considering sex as a pivotal factor in neurophysiological research. Surprisingly, despite expectations of developmental maturation, ANS reactivity to attentional challenges remains stable across childhood, challenging traditional developmental paradigms and prompting further exploration into underlying mechanisms. Moving forward, leveraging longitudinal mixed-effects modeling, cluster analysis, and assessments of neurobehavioral outcomes offers promising avenues for comprehensive understanding. This research significantly advances our understanding of childhood neurophysiology and lays the groundwork for targeted interventions and public health initiatives to optimize developmental outcomes.

No

The discovery of mutations in the IDH1 and IDH2 genes in gliomas has significantly impacted the classification and treatment of these tumors [1, 2]. While histological grading has traditionally been used to predict prognosis in gliomas, it is now evident that IDH mutation status provides a more accurate indicator of a patient’s clinical course. In recognition of this, the WHO 2016 classification of CNS tumors has defined IDH-mutant gliomas as a distinct entity, marking a paradigm shift in tumor categorization [3]. However, despite the significant impact of IDH mutation status on prognosis, the post-treatment clinical course of IDH-mutant gliomas remains highly variable [4, 5]. To gain a better understanding of the biological and clinical factors contributing to this variability, researchers have identified other recurrent molecular abnormalities and altered intracellular signaling pathways in IDH-mutant gliomas [6, 7]. The 2021 WHO classification has incorporated some of these molecular markers to better characterize IDH-mutant astrocytoma and oligodendroglioma and predict treatment response [8]. The integration of molecular and clinical data has paved the way for the development of new diagnostic tools and therapeutic strategies targeting oncogenic signaling pathways for the treatment of IDH-mutant patients...[from the Guest Editorial]

Mexican Americans face a significant health disparity related to the development of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) when compared to other ethnic groups. Recent work has documented the utility of utilizing blood-based biomarkers in the detection of amnestic MCI among this population. Efforts to enhance the utility of biomarkers in detecting disease through the inclusion of select neuropsychological measures, an approach termed Molecular Neuropsychology, has shown promise. The present study sought to utilize the molecular neuropsychology approach and examine biobanked serum samples as well as neuropsychological assessments from the Health and Aging Brain among Latino Elders (HABLE) study. Random Forest analyses were conducted to determine the proteomic profile of MCI. Then separate linear regression analyses were conducted to determine the variance accounted for by the biomarkers within the select neuropsychological measures. Trail Making Test Part B was identified as having the least amount of variance and was combined with top five biomarkers within the MCI proteomic profile to create a biomarker-cognitive profile for detecting disease presence. This same method was applied to the amnestic and non-amnestic forms of MCI. The overall biomarker-cognitive profile was shown to be 90% accurate in the detection of MCI, with no significant increase when demographic variables were included into the model. Among amnestic MCI cases, the detection accuracy of the biomarker-cognitive profile was 92% and increased to 94% upon inclusion of demographic variables.

A qualitative case study research design is used to investigate the results of a neuropsychological test battery, collated and used with four individual cases. A literature study consisting of research with respect to AS as well as neuropsychological assessments provides the theoretical framework from which existing theory is tested and expanded on. The cases are analysed individually and then by cross case analysis to ascertain any patterns of strength and weaknesses which could result in a "typical" profile of a learner with AS. Findings conclude confusions with respect to diagnostic criteria for AS and a distinction of DSM-IV-TR criteria is used. The neuropsychological test battery includes questionnaires (personal history, Gilliam Asperger's disorder scale, Conners' parent and teacher questionnaire, Dunn's sensory profile) interviews (parents, teachers), observations (classroom and playground) and formal testing (intelligence, motor functions, academic achievement, theory of mind and executive functions). Findings from the literature show similarities between AS children and children with non verbal learning disabilities. Evidence of AS differing from individuals with high functioning autism is conclusive in all previous research using theory of mind tests. Evidence from the literature shows many children had been given another diagnosis, typically ADHD, before being given the diagnosis of AS. Additional disorders such as anxiety and depression were also given. AS children had consistent difficulties with social interaction. A typical neuropsychological profile of AS is not identified, but rather a "personality type" that is dominated by anxiety and individual "quirks" of personality which affects responses to the formal test battery - thereby influencing the scores obtained. Two of the cases presented with an academic profile similar to that of a non verbal learning disability and one presented with similarities with a semantic pragmatic disorder. The thesis concludes with a proposed differentiating model of behavioural, communication and learning disorders in which AS is defined in terms of that originally described by Hans Asperger himself, and specifically treated within the education environment. / Educational Studies / D.Ed. (Psychology of Education)

A qualitative case study research design is used to investigate the results of a neuropsychological test battery, collated and used with four individual cases. A literature study consisting of research with respect to AS as well as neuropsychological assessments provides the theoretical framework from which existing theory is tested and expanded on. The cases are analysed individually and then by cross case analysis to ascertain any patterns of strength and weaknesses which could result in a "typical" profile of a learner with AS. Findings conclude confusions with respect to diagnostic criteria for AS and a distinction of DSM-IV-TR criteria is used. The neuropsychological test battery includes questionnaires (personal history, Gilliam Asperger's disorder scale, Conners' parent and teacher questionnaire, Dunn's sensory profile) interviews (parents, teachers), observations (classroom and playground) and formal testing (intelligence, motor functions, academic achievement, theory of mind and executive functions). Findings from the literature show similarities between AS children and children with non verbal learning disabilities. Evidence of AS differing from individuals with high functioning autism is conclusive in all previous research using theory of mind tests. Evidence from the literature shows many children had been given another diagnosis, typically ADHD, before being given the diagnosis of AS. Additional disorders such as anxiety and depression were also given. AS children had consistent difficulties with social interaction. A typical neuropsychological profile of AS is not identified, but rather a "personality type" that is dominated by anxiety and individual "quirks" of personality which affects responses to the formal test battery - thereby influencing the scores obtained. Two of the cases presented with an academic profile similar to that of a non verbal learning disability and one presented with similarities with a semantic pragmatic disorder. The thesis concludes with a proposed differentiating model of behavioural, communication and learning disorders in which AS is defined in terms of that originally described by Hans Asperger himself, and specifically treated within the education environment. / Educational Studies / D.Ed. (Psychology of Education)

Text in Afrikaans / Hierdie studie ondersoek die moontlikheid dat aandagtekort versteuring met hiperaktiwiteit(ATHV/H) verband hou met probleme met voortgesette aandag, terwyl aandagtekort versteuring sander hiperaktiwiteit(ATHV/SO) verband hou met probleme met gefokusde aandag. Neurosielkundige toetse waarmee voortgesette- en gefokusde aandag gemeet word, word gebruik om drie groepe, naamlik ATHV/H(n=24), ATHV/SO(n=l5) en 'n kontrole groep(n=21), met mekaar te vergelyk. Resul tate dui daarop dat die groep ATHV/SO beduidend swakker presteer as die ander twee groepe op sommige van die toetse van gefokusde aandag, en ook neig om swakker te presteer op die toets van voortgesette aandag. Die groep ATHV/SO se probleme blyk gekoppel te wees aan 'n stadiger spoed van kognitiewe prosessering en 'n toestand van hipoopwekking. Die groep ATHV/H presteer nie beduidend swakker as die ander twee groepe op die toets van voortgesette aandag nie, maar presteer wel swakker as die kontrole groep op die Stroop Colour-Word Test waar inhibisie van ontoepaslike response vereis word. Die groep ATHV /H se probleme blyk verband te hou met frontale disfunksie wat manifesteer as 'n neighing tot impulsiwiteit en gebrekkige gedragsregulering. / This study examined the possibility that attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity(ADHD/H) is related to problems with sustained attention, while attention deficit disorder without hyperactivity (ADHD/WO) is related to problems with focussed attention. The performance of three groups: ADHD/H (n=24), ADHD/WO(n=15) and a control group(n=21) were compared. Results indicated that the ADHD/WO group performed significantly poorer than the other two groups on some of the tests of focussed attention and also tended to perform poorer on the test assessing sustained attention. This groups' symtoms appear to be related to a slowed speed of processing and a state of hypo-arousal. The ADHD/H group did not perform poorer than the other two groups on the test assessing sustained attention. The ADHD/H groups' symptoms appear to be related to frontal dysfunction resulting in impulsivity and poor behavioural control. / Psychology / M.A. (Sielkunde)

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2015 / ENGLISH ABSTRACT : Worldwide there are various reports on the prevalence of depression in patients diagnosed with brain tumours. In South Africa, psychological research in relation to psychiatric symptoms among patients with brain tumours is lacking. The aims of this study were to determine the incidence of depression in patients diagnosed with brain tumours and to clarify our understanding of the relationship between depression and tumour localisation, histopathological type of tumour, and participant characteristics. The study sample consisted of 35 patients (11 males and 24 females) aged between 21 and 64 years with a solitary primary brain tumour. The patients were treated at the neurosurgery clinics located at Tygerberg Hospital in the Western Cape and Universitas Hospital in the Free State between mid-2010 and 2013. The major histological subgroup consisted of meningiomas (47%), glioblastomas (22%), astrocytomas (19%), gliomas (9%) and epidiomas (3%). The tumour distribution was as follows: 52% in the left hemisphere, 37% in the right hemisphere, and 11 % in the midline. The psychiatric symptoms of the patients were assessed before treatment by the Beck Depression Inventory and Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview. In addition, the patients’ neuropsychological functions were evaluated by a short neuropsychological test battery (Mini Mental State Examination, Trail Making Test (Part A), Letter Number Sequencing subtest, Hopkins Verbal Learning Test – Revised, and Brief Visuospatial Memory Test – Revised). Results from the quantitative data, showed the prevalence of mild depression was 26% for men and 43% for women. Overall 37% of the total sample had depressive symptoms. No significant relationship was found between depression and tumour location or between the various neuropsychological characteristics and neurological symptoms and tumour location. The study showed that depression is a common symptom in patients diagnosed with brain tumours and therefore depression symptoms have to be recognised and treated by psycho-educating the patients and their families, pharmacotherapy, or psychotherapy as soon as possible. However, due to the relatively small sample size, the results are of limited generalisability. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING : Wêreldwyd is daar verskeie verslae oor die voorkoms van depressie in pasiënte gediagnoseer met breingewasse. In Suid-Afrika is daar ’n tekort aan sielkundige navorsing met betrekking tot psigiatriese simptome by pasiënte. Die doel van hierdie studie was om die voorkoms van depressie te bepaal in pasiënte gediagnoseer met breingewasse en om duidelikheid te kry oor die verband tussen depressie en die ligging van breingewasse, histopatologiese tipe gewas en karakter eienskappe van die deelnemers. Die steekproef van die studie het bestaan uit 35 pasiënte (11 mans en 24 vroue) tussen die ouderdomme 21 en 64 jaar met ‘n soliede breingewas. Die pasiënte is behandel by die neurochirurgiese klinieke by Tygerberg Hospitaal in die Wes-Kaap en by Universitas Hospitaal in die Vrystaat vanaf middel 2010 tot 2013. Die mees algemene histologiese subgroep het bestaan uit meningiome (47%), glioblastomas (22%), astrocytomas (19%), gliomas (9%) en epidiomas (3%). Die verspreiding van die gewasse was soos volg: 52% in die linkerhemisfeer, 37% in die regterhemisfeer en 11% in die middel. Die psigiatriese simptome van die pasiënte is voor behandeling geëvalueer met behulp van die Beck Depression Inventory en die Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview. Bykomend is die pasiënte se neurosielkundige funksies geëvalueer met behulp van ‘n neurosielkundige toetsbattery (Mini Mental State Examination, Trail Making Test (Part A), Letter Number Sequencing subtest, Hopkins Verbal Learning Test – Revised en Brief Visuospatial Memory Test – Revised). Die resultate van die kwantitatiewe data het getoon die voorkoms van matige depressie was 26% vir mans en 43% vir vroue. In geheel het 37% van die totale steekproef depressiewe simptome getoon. Daar was geen beduidende verhouding tussen depressie en die ligging van die gewas of tussen die verskeie neurosielkundige eienskappe en die ligging van die gewas nie. Die studie het getoon dat depressie ’n algemene simptoom is in pasiënte gediagnoseer met breingewasse en daarom moet depressiewe simptome herken en so gou as moontlik behandel word deur psigo-opvoeding van die pasiënte en hul familie, farmakoterapie of psigoterapie. As gevolg van die relatiewe klein steekproef grootte het die resultate ’n beperkte veralgemeenbaarheid.

No description available.

Previous studies have found that poor effort can significantly impact psychometric performance by Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) patients. So far, this impact has been relatively well studied in attention and memory. However, this is not the case for visual perception functions. Thus, the goal of this study was to determine to what extent TBI severity affect visual perception after controlling for effort. Results showed that mild TBI good effort group did not differ from a demographically matched control group. In contrast, a mild TBI poor effort group, a moderate-severe TBI group and a right hemisphere cerebro-vascular (CVA) group performed worse than the mild TBI good effort group and the control group. The results suggest a dose response relationship between injury severity and visual perception performance. After controlling for effort, results indicated that moderate-severe TBI, but not mild TBI, has long lasting effects on visual perception. Clinical implications are discussed.