The present revised proposal is a systematic study of the development of preterms' capability for intersensory integration, an ability often considered a prerequisite for later symbolic and cognitive functioning. The proposal builds on past work in whcch we pinpointed cognitive deficits during the latter half of the first year of life in cross-modal transfer of visual and tactual information, biosensory processing, and visual recognition memory. These deficits were found even though preterms were tested at corrected age, i.e., age from expected data of birth. In this study we will (1) limit our sample to preterms at highest risk (less than 1500 gms at birth); (2) assess factors likely to modulate performance, including physical growth, neurological and medical status, minor physical abnormalities, SES, visual acuity and fine motor development; (3) carry out a longitudinal study (with multiple assessments at 6, 9, 12, 24, and 36 months) instead of the original cross-sectional design, thus establishing a growth function for these emerging cross-modal skills; (4) introduce follow-up measures at 24 and 36 months to assess the predictive validity of our measures for later cognitive impairment.
The aims of the assessments are: (1) to explore whether the cross-modal deficits in preterms arise from modality specific deficits in acquiring tactual information, general deficits, or deficits in sensory integration per se; (2) to test whether differential memory factors are implicated in cross-modal deficits by imposing delays between familiarization and tests for recognition; (3) to test the involvement of memory in the opposite way; by trying to rule out memory from familiarization and testing; and (4) to explore the reason that manipulation of an object interfered with visual recognition memory of it in the biosensory task. Pinpointing the factors involved in early disabilities is of fundamental importance for understanding the ontogeny of later deficits and disorders, for developing early diagnostic instruments, and for the rationale design of intervention programs.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
3R01HD013810-07S1
Application #
3312327
Study Section
Human Development and Aging Subcommittee 3 (HUD)
Project Start
1990-09-01
Project End
1991-05-31
Budget Start
1990-09-01
Budget End
1991-05-31
Support Year
7
Fiscal Year
1990
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
009095365
City
Bronx
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
10461
Rose, Susan A; Feldman, Judith F; Jankowski, Jeffery J (2015) Pathways From Toddler Information Processing to Adolescent Lexical Proficiency. Child Dev 86:1935-47
Rose, Susan A; Feldman, Judith F; Jankowski, Jeffery J (2012) Implications of infant cognition for executive functions at age 11. Psychol Sci 23:1345-55
Rose, Susan A; Feldman, Judith F; Jankowski, Jeffery J et al. (2012) Information Processing from Infancy to 11 Years: Continuities and Prediction of IQ. Intelligence 40:445-457
Rose, Susan A; Feldman, Judith F; Jankowski, Jeffery J (2011) Modeling a cascade of effects: the role of speed and executive functioning in preterm/full-term differences in academic achievement. Dev Sci 14:1161-75
Rose, Susan A; Feldman, Judith F; Jankowski, Jeffery J et al. (2011) The structure of memory in infants and toddlers: an SEM study with full-terms and preterms. Dev Sci 14:83-91
Rose, Susan A; Feldman, Judith F; Jankowski, Jeffery J et al. (2011) Basic Information Processing Abilities at 11 years Account for Deficits in IQ Associated with Preterm Birth. Intelligence 39:198-209
Rose, Susan A; Feldman, Judith F; Jankowski, Jeffery J (2009) Information Processing in Toddlers: Continuity from Infancy and Persistence of Preterm Deficits. Intelligence 37:311-320
Rose, Susan A; Feldman, Judith F; Jankowski, Jeffery J (2009) A cognitive approach to the development of early language. Child Dev 80:134-50
Rose, Susan A; Jankowski, Jeffery J; Feldman, Judith F (2008) The inversion effect in infancy: the role of internal and external features. Infant Behav Dev 31:470-80
Rose, Susan A; Feldman, Judith F; Jankowski, Jeffery J et al. (2008) A Cognitive Cascade in Infancy: Pathways from Prematurity to Later Mental Development. Intelligence 36:367-378

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