Maze learning was used with preschool children to test the hypothesis that the hippocampus (a distinctive cortical structure) in the human brain matures at about four to five years of age. (JMB)

Findings confirmed that whereas six- to eight-month-old infants revealed reliable acquisition under immediate reinforcement, a three-second delay precluded response acquisition, as did six-second and ten-second delay of reinforcement. A modified delayed-reinforcement scheduling procedure enabled a previous methodological criticism to be…

This study examined conceptual relationships in semantic memory using an indirect priming technique in high-functioning autistic adolescents and controls. The autistic subjects and controls showed similar semantic priming effects. However, correlations with nonverbal cognitive measures for the autistic subjects suggests that semantic processing in…

A hemispheric specialization of function paradigm was used to test cognitive skill and cognitive style in learning disabled and "normal" boys between the ages of 7 and 12. Discussion emphasizes the need for more information on nonverbal processing skills to aid in developing verbal representational systems. (JMB)

It was predicted that two variables would influence recognition memory for complex visual stimuli: association values, and the realistic-abstract dimension, or "objectivity". The stimuli were 12 reproductions of realistic paintings (clearly representing real world objects), six of high association value and six of low; and 12 abstract pictures,…

In two studies of verbal instruction of young mentally retarded adults, increasing the speed of verbal instruction reduced the level of nonverbal performance, particulary in subjects with poor nonverbal scores. Slight increases in speed of instruction can have major and negative impacts. Redundancy in verbal instruction inhibits nonverbal…

Frequency Theory, deriving from word recognition studies, was applied to immediate recognition of nonrepresentational pictorial items by 12-year old Ss. (Author)

Challenges the identification of literacy with intelligence and abstract reasoning ability. Suggests nonverbal projects as a way of broadening the definition of intelligence in the English classroom. A bibliography is included. (DF)

Describes characteristics of students with nonverbal learning disorders and offers teachers suggestions for helping them work with students with these disabilities. Includes story of one nonverbal learning-disabled student's school experience. (PKP)

Nonverbal learning disabilities (NLD) are characterized by weaknesses in narrative discourse. Thirty-three children (M age=11.7 years), 15 girls and 18 boys, listened to stories to evaluate their narrative comprehension and retelling abilities. Children with NLD (n=11) performed as poorly as children with verbal impairment (n=10) on all narrative…

Numerous studies of verbal creativity indicate that idea originality increases progressively as more ideas are produced. The present study tested the effects of practice upon nonverbal creativity. Thirty-two fifth grade children were administered Form A and/or Form B of Torrance's picture completion task for 5 consecutive days. Figural originality…

Discusses the emergence and early development of symbolic functioning in children engaged in nonverbal, expressive activities. Concludes that symbolic functioning must be considered in the affective as well as cognitive sphere of development. Implications for educational practice and questions for further research are presented. (DP)

Describes procedures used to study abilities of chimpanzees to be taught written language. Words, sentences, questions, metalinguistics, class concepts, the copula, some quantifiers and if-then logical connections are investigated. Success seems attributable largely to non-linguistic cues. (JM)