Pitch perception deficits in nonverbal learning disability.

The nonverbal learning disability (NLD) is a neurological dysfunction that affects cognitive functions predominantly related to the right hemisphere such as spatial and abstract reasoning. Previous evidence in healthy adults suggests that acoustic pitch (i.e., the relative difference in frequency between sounds) is, under certain conditions, encoded in specific areas of the right hemisphere that also encode the spatial elevation of external objects (e.g., high vs. low position). Taking this evidence into account, we explored the perception of pitch in preadolescents and adolescents with NLD and in a group of healthy participants matched by age, gender, musical knowledge and handedness. Participants performed four speeded tests: a stimulus detection test and three perceptual categorization tests based on colour, spatial position and pitch. Results revealed that both groups were equally fast at detecting visual targets and categorizing visual stimuli according to their colour. In contrast, the NLD group showed slower responses than the control group when categorizing space (direction of a visual object) and pitch (direction of a change in sound frequency). This pattern of results suggests the presence of a subtle deficit at judging pitch in NLD along with the traditionally-described difficulties in spatial processing.

[The development of verbal communication in aphasic patients treated by neuropsychological therapy]. / Evolución de la communicación verbal en afásicos tratados con terapia neuropsicológica.

OBJECTIVE: Based on the theories dealing with reorganization of the functional system, which are usually the basis of the treatment of aphasology, this paper has as its objective to analyse the evolution of the ability to communicate in a series of 43 right-handed persons with aphasia due to a cerebro-vascular accident of the left hemisphere, who attended sessions of neuropsychological treatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The patients were grouped according to the type of aphasia initially diagnosed: global (G), Broca (B), conduction (C), anomia (A), transcortical motor (MT) and Wernicke (W). The output before and after treatment was evaluated using a scale from 0-6 points to grade the capacity of communication (comprehension-expression). In each group the 't' test was done to compare the average scores, initially and finally, both of comprehension and of expression. RESULTS: The results showed that group A had the most favourable course both of comprehension and of expression. Of the patients with a predominantly expression disorder, the best recovery was seen in groups C and MT. In group B verbal expression followed a very varied course. Those of G and W improved significantly, but great difficulty in communication persisted. Comparing expression in these two groups, those of W showed significantly more improvement than those of G, who showed very little improvement.

The MCMI-II diagnosis of schizophrenia: operating characteristics and profile analysis.

The Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-II (MCMI-II) scores of 35 schizophrenic inpatients were compared with scores from a matched group of 35 psychiatric inpatients with no thought disorder. The operating characteristics of the Thought Disorder (SS) scale in overlapping and nonoverlapping form were determined using various cutoff points defined by Base Rate (BR) scores or the numbers of prototypic items endorsed by the subject. The Thought Disorder scale was found to perform poorly--no better than chance (Prevalence = 50%)--at correctly classifying patients as schizophrenic or nonschizophrenic, regardless of the type of cutoff lines used. A profile analysis was performed on six schizophrenia-relevant scales in search of a distinguishing schizophrenia profile. Results indicated that the schizophrenic group produced no distinct profile. Results are discussed in terms of their relevance for clinicians and further research.

[Neuropsychologic evaluation of the action of oxovinca in the syndrome of diffuse deterioration of vascular origin (author's transl)]. / Valoración neuropsicológica de la acción de oxovinca en el sindrome de deterioro difuso de origen vascular.

A controlled double-blind study of the effects of oxovinca in the syndrome of diffuse deterioration of vascular origin has been carried out. The measurement and follow-up the degree of deterioration has been done by application of a new scale. The subjects of the study were divided into an experimental sample (formed by 33 patients) and a placebo sample (formed by 6 patients), all with the syndrome of diffuse deterioration of vascular origin, and a control sample formed by 10 normal individuals of comparable age. After three consecutive courses of the drug given within a two-month period to the experimental and placebo groups, and comparing the results with those of the control sample, the statistical analysis of the data demonstrates that, given the temporal limitations of the trial, a partial reversibility of the signs and symptoms of the syndrome of diffuse deterioration is possible and correlates with the therapeutic action of oxovinca.