Examines (1) whether and when the development of preterm children of very low birth weight would begin to approximate that of demographically matched full-term children, and (2) whether test scores corrected for degree of prematurity or those based on chronological age would be the more accurate predictors of subsequent development. (RH)

Preference for novelty, as measured with an exploratory behavior paradigm, was compared in 8-month-old full-term and preterm infants of matched conceptional age. Subjects were 64 infants, 32 full term and 32 preterm, with 16 males and 16 females in each group. (Author/JH)

Examined behavioral/physiological responses of 2-month-olds during physical examinations. Found that colic infants cried twice as much, cried more intensely, and were more inconsolable than control infants. Heart rate, vagal tone, and cortisol measures showed no appreciable difference. At home, colic infants displayed a blunted rhythm in cortisol…

Two experiments investigated the role of spatial prototypes in estimates of location. Found that adults and children ages 7 to 11 years overestimated distances between target locations in different regions and that none displaced objects toward the region centers. Even with boundaries removed during testing, adults and children overestimated…

A set of boxes with incongruous animal pictures and a set of plastic Bristle Blocks were presented to 20 preschool children and 20 college students to investigate or play with as they wished. The time spent in investigative exploration and play was recorded over three 10-minute sessions on separate days. (Author/JMB)

Evaluated the relation between fetal activity and postnatal behavior and development by measuring the amount of fetal movement occurring in response to stimulation and the number of stimulus applications necessary for habituation. Preliminary evidence suggests that fetal rate of habituation predicts some aspects of infant behavior and development…

Data showed that the majority of low-birth-weight twins and singletons had secure attachments, indicating that the propensity to form a secure attachment is a very robust phenomenon. Twinship did not affect infants' attachment classification. Contrary to the prediction that mothers in the insecure group would consistently obtain lowest ratings,…

Investigates developmental changes in adopted and nonadopted children's knowledge of adoption. A total of 200 children ranging in age from 4 to 13 years participated. Results indicated clear developmental trends in children's knowledge of the nature of the adoptive family relationship, as well as in their understanding of the motivational basis…

Analyzes the exploratory behaviors of 11 infants with Down Syndrome and 11 nondelayed infants, matched on Bayley mental raw scores and gender. Although both groups of infants organized their exploratory activities in similar manners, they showed significant differences in how they distribute these activities. (Author/BE)

Determines the time course of circulating cortisol following circumcision in 80 healthy newborns and investigates whether changes in behavioral state following circumcision in anyway paralleled the adrenocortical time course. Adrenocortical and behavioral data indicated that subjects were able to cope with circumcision trauma. Cortisol levels…

Results of three experiments suggest that groups of schizophrenic, younger normal, and older normal children used a serial information-processing strategy while performing on a partial report version of a span of apprehension task. Impairment of schizophrenic children on the partial report versions seemed to reflect inefficiencies in the…

The behavior of 10 newborn babies given pacifiers in response to spontaneous empty sucking, rooting, and mouthing was compared to that of 10 controls. Observations, conducted at 24-hour intervals for four days, began 2 hours before and concluded 1 hour after feedings. (RH)