Background: There is growing interest in research understanding the individual-specific predictors of child callous-unemotional (CU) traits, particularly in early childhood. Objective: This study reviewed evidence from studies that investigated the relationship between early child temperament factors (between 0 and 3 years) and CU traits in…

This paper offers a concise 3-page summary of the results of some investigations of sucking behavior during the neonatal period. This is followed by a page of references and 16 pages of pertinent diagrams and their descriptions. The investigations are the result of an objective technique developed for measuring the nutritive sucking behavior of…

Research supported by U.S. Public Health Service Grant MH-6415.

A method for preparing observation summaries, both current and retrospective, is presented in order to identify and track intense early interests in infants and their relationship to later giftedness. Examples of observation forms, instructions for recording observed behavior, and approaches to uncovering patterns and themes within recorded data…

Studies of the infant's distribution of attention to stimuli of varying complexity, and of his differential attention to familiar versus novel stimuli (discrepancy), have attempted to shed light on the development of cognitive structures in the non-verbal infant. The subjects have typically been normal infants ages 4 to 6 months. For testing, the…

The Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale was administered to 143 healthy newborns. Infants were divided into average-superior and worrisome groups based on the rating of their performance on the "a priori" dimensions and overall profile. Twelve risk variables were entered into a stepwise discriminant analysis for each dimension…

Assesses ability of infant tests to predict language and cognitive development and to detect infants at risk for developmental problems. The Bayley Mental Development Index was particularly capable of detecting infants at risk for developmental delay. The Caldwell Inventory of Home Stimulation identified home environment as a key factor in…

Reviews issues of reliability (especially test-retest reliability) in newborn assessment, discusses predictive models based on newborn assessment, and presents information on modifications of the Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale which may help in pursuing fruitful questions involving prediction of development. (Author/BH)

Findings of a study of 32 infants attending a neonatal intensive care unit follow-up clinic included mechanically ventilated infants were more irritable than nonventilated infants; infants from lower income families were fussier than infants from higher income families; 5-minute Apgar scores were more predictive of infants' success on a visual…

This paper discusses issues connected with the reliability of the Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (NBAS) in terms of behavior prediction, neonatal behavioral organization and stability, and consequent implications for study of newborns. Discussion focuses on: (1) reliability, and (2) prediction and neonatal assessment. The NBAS is seen as a…

Presents an account of the development and use of the Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (NBAS). Discusses ways in which NBAS has increased understanding of development in the newborn, of states of consciousness in the infant, of prediction in development, and of a clinician's opportunities to share information with parents. (BC)