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This thesis reports the findings of my study of students with visual-spatial deficits in my specialist school in the city of New York. It is comprised of a pilot study, mathematical interviews, and interventions with students and teachers. This study is qualitative and primarily uses case studies to explain the interventions with both the students and the teachers. The study is made up of interventions with two students, and interventions with several teachers who work in my specialist K-12 school which includes both primary and secondary school teachers. Since very little research has been conducted in this field to this point, the findings presented in this thesis aim to give teachers, especially secondary school mathematics teachers, an understanding of the challenges that secondary school students with visual-spatial deficits face when they are learning mathematics. In addition, this research also discusses intervention sessions that I conducted with teachers that gives some insights into educating secondary school mathematics teachers about mathematics learning disabilities and their impact on the students that they teach. The main findings of this research are that there are effective interventions for both students and teachers that help students with visual-spatial deficits learn mathematics. A successful theme that has emerged is centring which helps students to start questions that they find challenging, and also focus their attention on obtaining a solution. It can sometimes lead to a greater understanding of mathematics as well.

No description available.

No description available.

Mental rotation (MR) is the ability to mentally shift one's visual perspective of any object by changing the orientation of a mental image of that object. Research into the effects of stress on MR could be used to help improve understanding of a variety of visual-spatial tasks performed in hyper-vigilance situations. However, until the present study, there has been no research on the effects of stress on MR. The Yerkes-Dodson Law predicts performance will be improved when an individual is exposed to mild to moderate stress. The purpose of this study was to answer three research questions. The questions examined whether stress affects MR performance; if MR performance is improved by stress, impaired, or unchanged; and, if the effect of stress is related to the degree of MR task difficulty. Twenty healthy adult participants, aged 18 to 65, were recruited from the Savannah, Georgia area. The participants were divided into 2 groups of 10: stress and no-stress groups. The stress group was exposed to a math task under time pressure. The no-stress group was given a simple counting task to do at their own pace. Heart rate during testing was measured for both groups. "L-shaped" objects of varying angular orientation were presented on a computer screen immediately following the counting tasks. Participants choose whether the pair of objects were different mirror images of the other, or the same object, only rotated differently. A 2 x2 mixed repeated measures ANOVA indicated significant differences in heart rate between groups following exposure to the counting tasks. A 2-sample t test showed no significant differences between groups for MR performance. Social change implications include more efficient use of employee training in mild- to moderately- stressful jobs that require MR skills.

Simulation is an important tool when training is hazardous, time consuming, or expensive. Simulation can also be used to enhance reality by adding features normally not available in the real world. The aim with this work has been to develop and evaluate methods that could improve learning in oral radiology utilising a radiation-free simulator environment. Virtual reality software for radiographic examinations was developed. The virtual environment consisted of a model of a patient, an x-ray machine, and a film. Simulated radiographic images of the patient model could be rendered as perspective projections based on the relative position between the individual models. The software was incorporated in an oral radiology simulator with a training program for interpretation of spatial relations in radiographs. Projection geometry was validated by comparing length dimensions in simulated radiographs with the corresponding theoretically calculated distances. The results showed that projection error in the simulated images never exceeded 0.5 mm. Dental students participated in studies on skill in interpreting spatial information in radiographs utilising parallax. Conventional and simulator based training methods were used. Training lasted for 90 minutes. Skill in interpreting spatial information was assessed with a proficiency test before training, immediately after training, and eight months after training. Visual-spatial ability was assessed with mental rotations test, version A (MRT-A). Regression analysis revealed a significant (P<0.01) association between visual-spatial ability and proficiency test results after training. At simulator training, proficiency test results immediately after training were significantly higher than before training (P<0.01). Among students with low MTR-A scores, improvement after simulator training was higher than after conventional training. Eight months after simulator training proficiency test results were lower than immediately after training. The test results were, however, still higher than before training. In conclusion, the simulation software produces simulated radiographs of high geometric accuracy. Acquisition of skill to interpret spatial relations in radiographs is facilitated for individuals with high visual-spatial ability. Simulator training improves acquisition of interpretative skill and is especially beneficial for individuals with low visual-spatial ability. The results indicate that radiology simulation can be an effective training method.

Orientador : Maria Irma Hadler Coudry / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Estudos da Linguagem / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-07T21:39:32Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Pereira_CarlaQueiroz_M.pdf: 2053799 bytes, checksum: 882fcfa1f8e1f4d1c3236903a3bc6463 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006 / Resumo: O objetivo deste trabalho de pesquisa é investigar como o sujeito JS - não afásico após sofrer três acidentes vasculares cerebrais isquêmicos (AVCi¿s) que lesionaram regiões parieto-occipitais de ambos os hemisférios cerebrais - realiza determinadas atividades lingüístico-cognitivas que envolvem aspectos vísuo-espaciais relacionados ao corpo, à escrita, à leitura de textos e de horas. Com base na Neurolingüística discursivamente orientada, na Neuropsicologia luriana e nas bases biológicas da Neuroplasticidade, estuda-se a complexidade dos processos envolvidos em atividades realizadas por JS, destacam-se as estratégias discursivas utilizadas por ele para disfarçar suas dificuldades, bem como os procedimentos clínicos com função terapêutica usados pela investigadora/interlocutora na tentativa de ¿(re)orientar¿ a reflexão de JS sobre as atividades realizadas. O foco deste estudo de caso, portanto, é a relação entre corpo/espaço e linguagem envolvida em atividades que requerem um bom funcionamento dessa relação. Para isso, toma-se como ponto de referência o sujeito que se enuncia para organizar o espaço da enunciação e seu próprio corpo como mediador dessa relação, o que permitiu compreender suas dificuldades e as soluções que encontra. Para análise e discussão dos dados foi utilizada uma metodologia qualitativa e heurística, baseada no paradigma indiciário, compatível com a formulação teóricometodológica de dado-achado. Os dados analisados mostram que JS se beneficiou do acompanhamento longitudinal: em relação a seu corpo, passou a observá-lo mais e a usar as referências que nele existem para determinar as coordenadas espaciais, direita e esquerda, relacionando-as a objetos representados; em relação à escrita, passou a concebê-la de novo como escrita e organizá-la melhor no espaço do papel; em relação à leitura das horas, refaz suas hipóteses na interlocução, havendo maior dificuldade quando a leitura não é feita em seu relógio de pulso, ou seja, quando o corpo não está concernido. Em relação à interlocução, JS revela muita eficácia no jogo da linguagem, transferindo para o outro o ônus da resposta, não apresentando, pois, o ideário de um sujeito com demência / Abstract: The objective of this research is investigating how our non-aphasic subject ¿ JS ¿ behaves after undergoing three ischemic vascular cerebral accidents, the way heaccomplishes some linguistic-cognitive activities evolving visual-spatial aspects related to his body, reading and writing, and time checking on clocks. Based on discursive-oriented Neurolinguistics, on Lurian Neuropsychology and on biological bases of Neuroplasticity, we study the processes complexity evolved in the activities performed by JS. We highlight the discursive strategies he used in order to hide his difficulties, as well as the therapeutically functional clinic procedures employed by the investigator/interlocutor when trying to ¿(re)guide¿ JS reflections about the activities performed. This case study focus is, therefore, the relation established between, on one hand, body/space and, on the other hand, the language required for the good functioning of this relation. Aiming that, we consider, as a reference point, the subject that enunciates himself in order to organize the enunciation space, using his own body as a broker of this relation ¿ which permits the comprehension of his difficulties and the solutions he is able to find. In order to analyze and discuss data, we backed on a qualitative and heuristic methodology, base don the indiciary paradigm, compatible to the theoretical-metodological analisis of ¿found data¿. The data analyzed shows that JS benefited himself from the longitudinal companion: he¿s started to observe his own body, using it to determine special coordinates (like left and right), in order to be able to relate these coordinates to represented objects; regarding writing, he¿s also conceived it as writing in fact; regarding time reading on the clock, he restated his own interlocution, mainly when he was not checking his own watch ¿ i.e., when his own body was not evolved. Regarding interlocution, JS reveals a lot of efficiency in the language game by transferring to his interlocutor the weight of the response ¿ i.e., not showing the ideary of a dement person / Mestrado / Mestre em Linguística

Síndrome de Williams-Beuren (SWB) é caracterizada por fácies típico, estenose aórtica supravalvar, retardo mental, hiperacusia e anormalidades comportamentais com personalidade amigável e distúrbios de ansiedade. É causada por microdeleção de genes contíguos localizados na região 7q11.23. Foram estudados 31 pacientes WBS (19 M e 12 F) a idade variou de 9 a 26 anos (mediana 14). O diagnóstico da SWB foi confirmado pelo FISH (Fluorescence In Situ Hibridisation) ou análise de marcadores microssatélites em todos os pacientes. Os objetivos foram avaliar a capacidade cognitiva, o QI (Quociente de Inteligência) de execução, verbal e total, a freqüência de déficits visuo-espaciais, traços autisticos e comparar os resultados encontrados com os moleculares. Os testes utilizados foram: WISC-III, WAIS-III, Figuras Complexas de Rey e Escala de Traços Autísticos (ATA). O QI total variou de 51 a 86 (mediana de 63): 22 com deficiência mental leve, 4 com deficiência mental moderada; 4 limítrofes, 1 média inferior. Todos os pacientes apresentaram déficit visuo-espacial. A freqüência de traços autisticos foi encontrada em 13/31 pacientes (41,94%) com predomínio no sexo masculino (10M: 3F). Não foi encontrada correlação entre a presença de traços autísticos em relação ao tamanho da deleção. Nosso estudo reforça a importância da avaliação sistemática da função cognitiva em pacientes com SWB e alerta para a presença da alta freqüência de traços autísticos encontrados em pacientes com SWB. Estes últimos dados são preliminares e novos estudos serão necessários para confirmar esse achado específico na SWB. / Williams-Beuren syndrome (WBS) is characterized by typical facies, supravalvular aortic stenosis, mental retardation, hyperacusis and behavioral abnormalities with overfriendly personality and anxiety disorders. It is caused by a microdeletion of continuous genes located in 7q11.23 region. We studied 31 WBS patients (19 M and 12 F) whose ages ranged from 9 to 26 years (median 14y). The diagnosis of WBS was confirmed by FISH or microsatellite markers analysis in all patients. The objectives were to evaluate cognitive ability, IQ(Intelligence Quotient) execution, verbal and total, frequency of visual-spatial deficits and autistic traits and compare the results of molecular findings. The tests used were the WISC-III, WAIS-III, Rey Complex Figure and a scale of autistic traits (ATA). The total IQ ranged from 51 to 86 (median 63): 22 with mild intellectual disability, 4 with moderate metal retardation, 4 limitrofe and 1 below the normal mean. All patients had marked visual-spatial deficit. The frequency of autistic traits were found in 13 of 31 patients (41.94%) with a predominance in males (10M:3F). There was no correlation with the incidence of autistic traits in relation to the size of the deletion. Our study reinforces the importance of the systematic assessment of cognitive function in WBS patients, and alerts researchers to the presence of a high frequency of autistic traits found in patients with WBS. These latter data are preliminary and further studies are necessary to confirm this specific finding in WBS patients.

Síndrome de Williams-Beuren (SWB) é caracterizada por fácies típico, estenose aórtica supravalvar, retardo mental, hiperacusia e anormalidades comportamentais com personalidade amigável e distúrbios de ansiedade. É causada por microdeleção de genes contíguos localizados na região 7q11.23. Foram estudados 31 pacientes WBS (19 M e 12 F) a idade variou de 9 a 26 anos (mediana 14). O diagnóstico da SWB foi confirmado pelo FISH (Fluorescence In Situ Hibridisation) ou análise de marcadores microssatélites em todos os pacientes. Os objetivos foram avaliar a capacidade cognitiva, o QI (Quociente de Inteligência) de execução, verbal e total, a freqüência de déficits visuo-espaciais, traços autisticos e comparar os resultados encontrados com os moleculares. Os testes utilizados foram: WISC-III, WAIS-III, Figuras Complexas de Rey e Escala de Traços Autísticos (ATA). O QI total variou de 51 a 86 (mediana de 63): 22 com deficiência mental leve, 4 com deficiência mental moderada; 4 limítrofes, 1 média inferior. Todos os pacientes apresentaram déficit visuo-espacial. A freqüência de traços autisticos foi encontrada em 13/31 pacientes (41,94%) com predomínio no sexo masculino (10M: 3F). Não foi encontrada correlação entre a presença de traços autísticos em relação ao tamanho da deleção. Nosso estudo reforça a importância da avaliação sistemática da função cognitiva em pacientes com SWB e alerta para a presença da alta freqüência de traços autísticos encontrados em pacientes com SWB. Estes últimos dados são preliminares e novos estudos serão necessários para confirmar esse achado específico na SWB. / Williams-Beuren syndrome (WBS) is characterized by typical facies, supravalvular aortic stenosis, mental retardation, hyperacusis and behavioral abnormalities with overfriendly personality and anxiety disorders. It is caused by a microdeletion of continuous genes located in 7q11.23 region. We studied 31 WBS patients (19 M and 12 F) whose ages ranged from 9 to 26 years (median 14y). The diagnosis of WBS was confirmed by FISH or microsatellite markers analysis in all patients. The objectives were to evaluate cognitive ability, IQ(Intelligence Quotient) execution, verbal and total, frequency of visual-spatial deficits and autistic traits and compare the results of molecular findings. The tests used were the WISC-III, WAIS-III, Rey Complex Figure and a scale of autistic traits (ATA). The total IQ ranged from 51 to 86 (median 63): 22 with mild intellectual disability, 4 with moderate metal retardation, 4 limitrofe and 1 below the normal mean. All patients had marked visual-spatial deficit. The frequency of autistic traits were found in 13 of 31 patients (41.94%) with a predominance in males (10M:3F). There was no correlation with the incidence of autistic traits in relation to the size of the deletion. Our study reinforces the importance of the systematic assessment of cognitive function in WBS patients, and alerts researchers to the presence of a high frequency of autistic traits found in patients with WBS. These latter data are preliminary and further studies are necessary to confirm this specific finding in WBS patients.