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Lab Personnel > Dr. April Benasich |
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Biographical Sketch | Research Interests | Studies | Publications | Abstracts |
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Choudhury, N., Leppänen, P.H.T., Leevers, H.J. & Benasich, A.A . (2006). Assessing rapid auditory processing abilities in family history and control infants: Evidence from converging paradigms. Developmental Science (In Press). |
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Abstract: An infant's ability to process auditory signals presented in rapid succession (i.e. rapid auditory processing abilities [RAP]) has been shown to predict differences in language outcomes in toddlers and preschool children. Early deficits in RAP abilities may serve as a behavioral marker for language-based learning disabilities. The purpose of this study is to determine if performance on infant information processing measures designed to tap RAP and global processing skills differ as a function of family history of specific language impairment (SLI) and/or the particular demand characteristics of the paradigm used. Seventeen 6- to 9-month-old infants from families with a history of specific language impairment (FH+) and 29 control infants (FH-) participated in this study. Infants' performance on two different RAP paradigms (head-turn procedure [HT] and auditory-visual habituation/recognition memory [AVH/RM]) and on a global processing task (visual habituation/recognition memory [VH/RM]) was assessed at 6 and 9 months. Toddler language and cognitive skills were evaluated at 12 and 16 months. A number of significant group differences were seen: FH+ infants showed significantly poorer discrimination of fast rate stimuli on both RAP tasks, took longer to habituate on both habituation/recognition memory measures, and had lower novelty preference scores on the visual habituation/recognition memory task. Infants' performance on the two RAP measures provided independent but converging contributions to outcome. Thus, different mechanisms appear to underlie performance on operantly-conditioned tasks as compared to habituation/recognition memory paradigms. Further, infant RAP processing abilities predicted to 12 and 16-month language scores above and beyond family history of SLI. The results of this study provide additional support for the validity of infant RAP abilities as a behavioral marker for later language outcome. Finally, this is the first study to use a battery of infant tasks to demonstrate multi-modal processing deficits in infants at risk for SLI. |
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Jing, H., Flax, J., Roesler, C., Choudhury, N., and Benasich, A. A. (2006). “Auditory event-related responses in children with semi-lobar holoprosencephaly.” Brain & Development, 207-214 |
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Abstract: The purpose of this study was to evaluate auditory sensory and discrimination responses in children with semi-lobar holoprosencephaly (HPE). Event-related potential (ERP) signals were recorded to tone pair stimuli at 62 electrode sites from the scalp using an oddball paradigm (a two-block design, inter-stimulus intervalZ70 or 300 ms; frequency of tone pairZ100 vs. 100 Hz for the frequent and 100 vs. 300 Hz for the infrequent). Latencies and amplitudes of P150, N250, and mismatch negativity (MMN)-like components were compared between children with HPE and controls. Our results revealed less organized ERP waveforms to both stimuli in children with HPE, with diminished P150 and N250 components across brain area. Robust and delayed MMN-like responses were elicited from the children with HPE, with decreased MMN amplitudes in the central, parietal, occipital, and posterior temporal areas. Our results suggest that while brain sensory responses to auditory tones may be impaired in children with semi-lobar HPE, subcomponents of auditory discrimination processes remain functional. |
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Benasich, A.A., Choudhury, N., Friedman, J.T., Realpe Bonilla, T., Chojnowska, C. and Gou, Z. (2006). Infants as a prelinguistic model for language learning impairments: Predicting from event-related potentials to behavior. Neuropsychologia , 44 (3), 396-411 |
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Abstract: Associations between efficient processing of brief, rapidly presented, successive stimuli and language learning impairments (LLI) in older children and adults have been well documented. In this paper we examine the role that impaired rapid auditory processing (RAP) might play during early language acquisition. Using behavioral measures we have demonstrated that RAP abilities in infancy are critically linked to later language abilities for both non-speech and speech stimuli. Variance in infant RAP thresholds reliably predict language outcome at 3 years-of-age for infants at risk for LLI and control infants. We present data here describing patterns of electrocortical (EEG/ERP) activation at 6 month-of-age to the same non-verbal stimuli used in our behavioral studies. Well-defined differences were seen between infants from families with a history of LLI (FH+) and FH- controls in the amplitude of the mismatch response (MMR) as well as the latency of the N250 component in the 70 ms ISI condition only. Smaller mismatch responses and delayed onsets of the N250 component were seen in the FH+ group. The latency differences in the N250 component, but not the MMR amplitude variation, were significantly related to 24-month language outcome. Such converging tasks provide the opportunity to examine early precursors of LLI and allow the opportunity for earlier identification and intervention. |
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Leevers, H.J., Roesler, C., Flax, J. & Benasich , A.A., (2005). “The Carter Neurocognitive Assessment: Evaluation of children with severe expressive language and motor impairment." Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 46:3, 1-17. |
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Abstract: In this paper, different means of assessing cognitive development in children with severe impairments in both their expressive language and their motor skills are reviewed. A range of techniques are considered, including traditional cognitive tests and behavioral and physiological measures, but these techniques are generally impractical and minimally informative when it comes to assessing children with both motor and speech impairments. Electrophysiological measures show some promise for the future, but are currently inadequate for wide-ranging cognitive assessment. Development of the Carter Neurocognitive Assessment (CNA) is described. The CNA is appropriate for use in clinical and research settings and was designed to minimalize the impact of severely impaired motor skills and expressive language on performance. The CNA is intended to itemize and quantify a range of skills reflecting a cognitive level up to approximately 18 to 24 months in four areas: Social Awareness, Visual Attention, Auditory Comprehension and Vocal Communication. The use of the CNA to assess the performance and developmental growth of eight children with Holoprosencephaly (HPE), a midline developmental brain malformation, is described. The CNA is a useful tool for the assessment of children with severely compromised motor and verbal skills and has provided a more positive view of the cognitive potential of children with severe handicaps, such as the sample of children with HPE, than that presented in the past. |
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Friedman, J.T., Peiffer, A.M., Clark, M.G,. Benasich , A.A., & Fitch, R.H. (2004). “ Age and experience-related improvements in gap detection in the rat.” Developmental Brain Research, 152 2, 83-91. |
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Abstract: The ability to accurately process brief, successive acoustic signals rapidly presented to the central nervous system is believed to underlie successful language development. The limits of temporal resolution of the auditory system, often assessed using gap detection tasks, has been widely studied in relation to developing and decoding speech. In the present study, a reflex modification paradigm was used to investigate potential shifts in gap detection thresholds in rats across development, with test sessions beginning on postnatal day (P) 15, P35 and P64. We found that thresholds decreased over the course of development. These thresholds were determined to lie between 10 and 20 ms for the P15 and P35 groups, and between 5 and 10 ms for the P64 group. Moreover, we observed improvements in gap detection thresholds in all age groups over 5 days of testing, including the youngest age group (P15). These later results suggest that experience-dependent plasticity mechanisms at the level of sensory processing are operational and observable both very early in development, and also in adult animals. The present findings also demonstrate maturational improvements in silent gap detection using a pre-pulse inhibition paradigm. |
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Jing, H., Heim, S., Chojnowskia C., Thomas, J. & Benasich, A.A. (2004). “Timing errors in auditory event-related potentials.” Journal of Neuroscience Methods, 138(1-2), 1-6. |
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Abstract: Electronic problems of electroencephalographic (EEG) system may occur in even the best-managed laboratories. Timing error may happen in the coupling of computers from various manufactures, resulting in the misalignment of event markers that signal the onset of stimuli. In one system, an impedance check desynchronized a computer and thus caused misalignment of events in EEG signals. Thus, the aim of this study was to develop a method to identify and correct such timing errors that contaminated 114 raw data of EEG/auditory event-related potentials (ERPs) recorded in one of our longitudinal studies. A two-step procedure was introduced in the correction of timing errors. First, the time delay was roughly estimated by identifying a P150 component in two ERP blocks. Second, a small phase-locked positive wave was identified for fine estimation. Reliability within and among evaluators was examined using ERP data with simulated timing errors. Concordant results were obtained in 104 (91.2%) of the 114 raw EEG/ERP data sets. Our results showed that the method presented here is reliable and can be used for correcting timing errors without introduction of experimenter bias. |
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Choudhury, N. and Benasich, A.A. (2003). A Family Aggregation Study: The influence of family history and other risk factors on language development. Journal of Speech, Language and Hearing Research, 46, 261-272 |
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Abstract. Substantial evidence continues to accrue for familial transmission of specific language impairment (SLI). The incidence in families with a history of SLI is estimated at approximately 20-40%, whereas in the general population the estimated incidence is about 4%. Typical aggregation studies compare data on the speech and language status of parents and siblings of individuals with SLI (the probands), to similar data from family members of control individuals with no speech or language disorder history. In the present study, family aggregation of SLI was examined for a unique sample of children who were ascertained before 6 months of age and thus were not SLI, but were born into a family with a positive history of SLI (FH+). No study to date has examined the pattern of affectance in families of children ascertained at such a young age. In addition, the ratio of boys to girls born into such families was investigated as previous studies have suggested alterations in the expected gender ratios. Consistent with prior research, SLI was found to aggregate in families; the average affectance rate in FH+ families was 32%, with significantly more boys (41%) reported as SLI than girls (16%). A comparison of FH+ and control families (FH-) on socio-demographic factors and medical history revealed differences in the overall rate of autoimmune diseases; FH+ families reported a significantly higher incidence (35%) compared to FH- families (9%). Finally, the 3-year language abilities of a subset of thirty-two children from FH+ families were compared with those of sixty children from control families (FH-). Children from FH+ families scored significantly lower on standardized measures of language and were more likely to fall below the 16th percentile (28%) than children from FH- families (7%). These results provide converging evidence that children from FH+ families are indeed at greater risk of developing language delay as compared to children from control families. |
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Benasich, A.A. (2002). Auditory processing of brief temporal cues and family history of autoimmune disorders in infants. Developmental Neuropsychology, Vol. 22, (1), pp. 351-372. |
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Abstract. Studies have shown that individuals with language disorders, such as developmental dyslexia and specific language impairment, exhibit impairments in the processing of brief, successive or rapidly changing auditory information. It is also the case that a higher rate of autoimmune disorders have been identified in those with language-based learning disorders, and conversely, that individuals with autoimmune disorders show a higher incidence of language-related disorders. The rapid auditory processing (RAP) deficits described for older individuals with language impairments may also be used as a behavioral "marker" to identify infants at higher risk for language delays. Thus, we were interested in examining RAP abilities in a subset of infants with a positive family history of autoimmune disorders. Eleven infants from our ongoing prospective longitudinal studies were identified based on parental response to a question about the presence of a family history of autoimmune disease and compared to 11 matched controls. The RAP threshold of each infant was assessed at 6 and 9 months of age using a conditioned head-turn procedure (using tone pairs with brief interstimulus intervals) and an auditory-visual habituation-recognition memory task using computer generated consonant-vowel syllables (/ba/ vs. /da/). A visual habituation-recognition memory task that did not require processing of brief temporal cues was also administered. Group differences emerged on the infant RAP tasks, and on language outcome measures at 12 and 16 months of age. Infants from families with a history of autoimmune disorder had significantly higher (i.e. poorer) RAP thresholds and lower language scores than control infants, whereas visual discrimination scores did not differ between family history infants and controls. However, when brief auditory cues were necessary for the discrimination of /ba/ vs. /da/, infants with a family history of autoimmune disorder performed significantly more poorly than controls. These findings lend support to the hypothesis that a similar mechanism, perhaps a neural-immune interaction, may underlie the observed co-occurrence of autoimmune disorders and learning impairments. |
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Benasich, A.A. & Tallal, P. (2002). Infant discrimination of rapid auditory cues predicts later language impairment. Behavioural Brain Research, 136 (1), 31-49. |
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Abstract. The etiology and mechanisms of specific language impairment in children are unknown. Differences in basic auditory processing abilities have been suggested to underlie their language deficits. Studies suggest that the neuropathology, such as atypical patterns of cerebral lateralization and cortical cellular anomalies (i.e. microgyric lesions, dysplasias, and ectopias), implicated in such impairments likely occurs early in life. Such anomalies may well play a part in the rapid processing deficits seen in this disorder. However, prospective, longitudinal studies in infant populations that are critical to examining these hypotheses have not been done. In the study described, performance on brief, rapidly-presented, successive auditory processing and perceptual-cognitive tasks were assessed in two groups of infants: normal control infants with no family history of language disorders and infants from families with a positive family history for language impairment. Initial assessments were obtained when infants were 6 to 9 months of age (M=7.5 months) and the sample was then followed through age 36 months. At the first visit, infants' processing of rapid auditory cues as well as global processing speed and memory were assessed. Significant differences in mean thresholds were seen in infants born into families with a history of language impairment as compared to controls. Examination of relations between infant processing abilities and emerging language through 36-months-of-age revealed that threshold for rapid auditory processing at 7.5 months was the single best predictor of language outcome at all subsequent ages. At age three, rapid auditory processing threshold and being male, together predicted 39 to 41% of the variance in language outcome. Thus, early deficits in rapid auditory processing abilities both precede and predict subsequent language delays. These findings support an essential role for basic nonlinguistic, central auditory processes, particularly rapid spectrotemporal processing, in normal as well as abnormal language development. Further, these findings provide a temporal diagnostic window during which future language impairments may be addressed. |
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Benasich, A.A., Thomas, J.J., Choudhury, N. & Leppänen, P.H.T. (2002). The importance of rapid auditory processing abilities to early language development: Evidence from converging methodologies. Developmental Psychobiology, 40, 278-292. |
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Abstract. The ability to process two or more rapidly presented, successive, auditory stimuli is believed to underlie successful language acquisition. Likewise, deficits in rapid auditory processing of both verbal and non-verbal stimuli are characteristic of individuals with developmental language disorders such as Specific Language Impairment. Auditory processing abilities are well developed in infancy and thus such deficits should be detectable in infants. In the studies presented here, converging methodologies are used to examine such abilities in infants with and without a family history of language disorder. Behavioral measures, including assessments of infant information processing, and an EEG/ERP paradigm are used concurrently. Results suggest that rapid auditory processing skills differ as a function of family history and are predictive of later language outcome. Further, these paradigms may prove to be sensitive tools for identifying children with poor processing skills in infancy, and thus at a higher risk for developing a language disorder. |
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Benasich, A. A., & Read, H. L . (1998). Representation: Picture or process? In I. E. Siegel (Ed.) Development of mental representation: Theories and applications (pp. 33-60). Mahwah, NJ, USA: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc. |
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Abstract. (From the chapter) How might information be represented in the brain? To attempt to answer such a question, one must consider what the brain actually "does," not at the level of the individual neuron but rather at the level of what ensembles of neurons accomplish, and how this is accomplished in a real brain rather than in a theoretical model of information processing or in a simplified neural net. The neural contribution to a cognitive process can be explored by observing how the process changes with lesions of a given brain structure. In presenting our working construct of the development of representation we first give you an overview of some key concepts, research issues and our own methodology. Second, we address the question of how normal development as well as altered developmental trajectories might be reflected in emerging representational processes. Third, we discuss the candidates for an organic instantiation of mental representation and the cortical mechanisms that might be called into service. Fourth, we present our evolving model of representation in infants and posit a construct that might capture the differing levels of neuronally mediated representation. Finally, we discuss what further predictions, hence future studies, such a model might dictate. |
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Spitz, Tallal, Flax, & Benasich, A.A. (1997). Look who's talking: A prospective study of familial transmission of language impairments. Journal of Speech and Hearing Research, 40, 990-1001. |
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Abstract. Examination of language acquisition and cognitive development in a group of 10 younger siblings and offspring of individuals with well-defined language impairments demonstrated that these children, recruited as infants before language onset, show significant delays in both receptive and expressive language at 16 to 26 months as compared to matched controls. The language scores used are age-normed percentile scores on the MacArthur Communicative Developmental Inventory. 50% of the FH+ toddlers are delayed more than 6 months (1.5 SD) whereas none of the control toddlers were. Moreover, examination of Bayley MDI scores to determine whether FH+ toddlers differed in general cognitive ability from controls suggested that differences seen in Bayley scores could be attributed to poorer performance on the verbal items on the Bayley rather than the nonverbal items. |
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Benasich, A. A., & Brooks-Gunn, J. (1996). Maternal attitudes and knowledge of child-rearing: Associations with family and child outcomes. Child Development, 67(3), 1186-1205. |
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Abstract. Examined the effect of maternal knowledge (MK) of child development and concepts of child rearing on the quality of home environment (HE) and on child cognitive and behavioral outcomes in a longitudinal study in a low birthweight (LBW), preterm cohort. Data was collected at birth, 12 and 24 mo from 608 infants (33 wk mean gestational age) and their 14-43 yr old mothers (52% Black, 11% Hispanic, 37% White, Asian or other). Results show measures of MK at 12 mo were significantly associated with the quality of the HE, the number of child behavior problems, and child Stanford Binet IQ at 36 mo. Child characteristics, including LBW, were not associated with MK or concepts of development. Subgroup analyses by race/ethnicity revealed a similar pattern of results. A measure of neonatal health status was shown to be associated with cognitive outcome in the Black subgroup at 24 and 36 mo. LBW did not mediate MK or concepts of development. |
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Benasich, A.A., & Tallal, P. (1996). Auditory temporal processing thresholds, habituation, and recognition memory over the 1st year. Infant Behavior & Development, 19(3), 339-357. |
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Abstract. Selective impairments have been found in the ability of language impaired children to process the rapidly changing temporal cues critical to language comprehension and production. This suggests that auditory temporal processing (ATP) deficits might serve as a behavioral "marker" of language impairment (LI) and could be useful in early identification. Measures of perceptual-cognitive abilities in infancy, such as habituation and recognition memory, have been shown to be particularly sensitive to language delays and linked to language comprehension. It is hypothesized that a critical mechanism contributing to "speed of processing," as measured by rate and amount of habituation and novelty preference on recognition memory tests, may represent a measure of temporal processing efficiency in infancy. ATP thresholds were examined in 2 groups of infants from 6 to 10 mo of age: infants from families with no known history of LI and infants from families with a positive history of LI. Infants from families with a positive history of LI had significantly lower mean thresholds than control infants. Habituation, ATP thresholds, and recognition memory were found to be significantly associated, suggesting that they may be tapping similar processes. |
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Benasich, A. A., Curtiss, S., & Tallal, P. (1993). Language, learning, and behavioral disturbances in childhood: A longitudinal perspective. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 32(3), 585-594. |
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Abstract. Relationships between developmental language disorders and emotional problems were investigated in 99 8-yr-old specifically language-impaired (LI) and control children originally assessed at age 4 yrs using the Child Behavior Checklist and the Conners Parents Questionnaire. LI Ss received higher behavior problem scores and were more likely to score in the clinical range than were controls. Neither degree of early language impairment nor amount of language improvement predicted 8-yr behavioral/emotional status. LI Ss with the largest drop in IQ between the ages 4 and 8 yrs received the highest behavior problem scores. No significant comorbid relationship was seen between LI and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The enhanced incidence of behavior problems reported heretofore may be related more to lower IQ than to linguistic deficit per se. |
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Benasich, A. A., & Bejar, I. I. (1992). The Fagan Test of Infant Intelligence: A critical review. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 13(2), 153-171. |
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Abstract. The Fagan Test of Infant Intelligence (FTII) is well grounded empirically and as a research tool is well thought out and systemized. However, when considered as a standardized clinical test some major deficits emerge, including inadequate statistical documentation, a nominal standardization sample, and insufficient reliability and validity information. The FTII is critiqued, and methodological, statistical, and theoretical issues pertaining to this test and to dissemination of such instruments are discussed. |
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Benasich, A. A., Brooks-Gunn, J., & Clewell, B. C. (1992). How do mothers benefit from early intervention programs? Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 13(3), 311-362. |
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Abstract. This review of the literature focuses on the changes that early childhood intervention programs for the disadvantaged have on maternal outcomes. Interventions that are educationally oriented, that are at least 6 mo long, that begin in the 1st 3 yrs of the child's life, and that serve disadvantaged families were reviewed. Of the 27 programs, 11 offered substantial center-based programming (mean of 25.7 hrs/wk), and 16 offered home visits and/or center-based programs on a less frequent basis. Maternal benefits are reviewed for maternal employment and education, fertility, mothernfant interaction, home environment, maternal mental health and self-esteem, and maternal attitudes and knowledge about childrearing. 70% of the programs looking at maternal attitudes and knowledge about childrearing report significant, positive results. |
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Schiff, W., Benasich, A. A., & Bornstein, M. H. (1989). Infant sensitivity to audiovisually coherent events. Psychological Research, 51(3), 102-106. |
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Abstract. Examined 34 5-mo-old infants' sensitivity to audiovisually coherent and incoherent events. A person speaking and an automobile with engine running were filmed approaching and receding with corresponding (coherent) soundtracks. Ss were tested with a habituation paradigm in which they observed coherent or incoherent films, involving, respectively, acoustical radial motion in the direction seen or opposite to the direction seen. Ss habituated to both person and car films, but coherent events uniformly yielded more rapid habituation than did incoherent ones. In addition, Ss treated silent events more like audiovisual coherence than like incoherence. Ss habituated more to cars than to people, suggesting that a speaking person may especially maintain infant attention. |
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Bornstein, M. H. Benasich, A. A. (1986). Infant habituation: Assessments of individual differences and short-term reliability at five months. Child Development, 57(1), 87-99. |
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Abstract. Examined individual differences and short-term reliability of infant-control habituation of visual attention. 32 infants (aged 5 mo) were divided into 2 groups and habituated either to single female faces or to single geometric patterns. Each group participated in habituation twice, and habituation sessions for each were separated from one another by 10 days. Across the 2 conditions, habituation was found to be distributed into 3 patterns: Most Ss decreased looking and achieved criterion in a negatively exponential fashion, some Ss first increased looking and then rapidly habituated, and some Ss showed fluctuating and idiosyncratic looking-time functions prior to habituating. Both qualitative patterns and quantitative indices of habituation showed moderate but significant reliability between assessment sessions. Quantitative and psychometric characteristics of habituation are discussed. It is concluded that habituation's psychometric reliability lends validity to its use as a methodological tool in infant research and credence to its value as a potential cognitive index in the infant. |
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Bornstein, M. H., Krinsky, S. J., & Benasich, A. A. (1986). Fine orientation discrimination and shape constancy in young infants. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 41(1), 49-60. |
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Abstract. Investigated simultaneously fine orientation discrimination and shape constancy in 30 4-mo-olds using 2 variants of the habituation paradigm. Ss in 1 group were habituated to a single orientation (5 or 15) of a single stimulus presented repeatedly and were then tested with the complementary orientation (l5 or 5). Ss in a 2nd group were habituated to several orientations (5, 10, and 15) of the same stimulus and were then tested with a familiar orientation of the stimulus, with 2 novel orientations of the same stimulus, and with a new stimulus. Between-groups comparison showed that Ss habituated more efficiently to re-presentations of a single orientation than to multiple orientations of the same stimulus, providing evidence of fine orientation discrimination; posthabituation comparison within the single-orientation group confirmed that Ss discriminated small orientation changes. Posthabituation comparison within the multiple-orientation group showed that Ss generalized over novel orientation changes of the familiar stimulus but that they discriminated change to a novel stimulus. Results demonstrate that under one set of conditions young infants show sensitivity to relatively fine variations in pattern orientation but that under a different set of conditions they give evidence of shape constancy with the same patterns. |
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Biographical Sketch | Research Interests | Studies | Publications | Abstracts |
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Lab Personnel > Dr. April Benasich |
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