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This study evaluated the influence of the frequency of reading and writing habits (RWH) associated with education on the performance of adults in brief neuropsychological tasks. A sample of 489 Brazilian subjects, composed of 71% women, aged 21-80 years, with 2-23 years of formal education, was evaluated by the Brazilian Brief Neuropsychological Assessment Battery NEUPSILIN. This battery was developed to briefly examine orientation, attention, perception, memory, arithmetic abilities, language, praxis, and executive functions, in the context of Brazilian culture. Education was measured by years of study in teaching institutions, and the frequency of RWH was measured by a scale for specific reading and writing items. Six groups were composed by a combination of the variables education and frequency of RWH. One-way analysis of variance indicated significant differences between groups in the attention, memory, arithmetic abilities, language, constructional praxis, problem solving and verbal fluency tasks of NEUPSILIN. Results pointed to the relevance of the frequency of RWH to performance in attention, working memory, executive functions, and language tasks. Cognitive stimulation after the formal education period is essential for less educated individuals, and frequency of RWH may promote an improvement in cognitive development, as verified by neuropsychological tests.

The investment theory of Cattell supposes an influence of fluid on crystallized intelligence. The development of fluid intelligence largely depends on biological factors, of crystallized intelligence on fluid intelligence and environmental stimulation. To test this theory two contrasting samples representing a broad ability range were chosen, a Brazilian sample (ages 7 to 15, N = 833, mean IQ 92) and a sample with a higher ability level in Germany (ages 11 to 19, N = 722, IQ 118). Analyses of cross-lagged effects across two year intervals show similar effects of fluid intelligence on crystallized and vice versa (around beta = 0.17). Parental socioeconomic status and parental education have in both samples a slightly stronger effect on crystallized than on fluid intelligence. The first result refutes Cattell's theory, the second gives some support. The development of fluid intelligence also seems to be influenced by non-biological environmental factors resulting in a concept of intelligence as a malleable ability. (Contains 6 figures.)

The study aimed to explore associations between socioeconomic position (SEP) indicators, early child stimulation (ECS) and attention-related executive functions (EF) at age 11. Children born in Pelotas, Brazil, in 2004, were recruited to a birth cohort (n = 4231, non-response rate at recruitment < 1%) and followed from birth to age 11. SEP variables were family income and maternal schooling. At the 24 and 48-month follow-ups, five markers of cognitive stimulation and social interaction were recorded and positive answers were summed to a score ranging from 0 to 5. At age 11, attentional-switching and control, and selective-attention were assessed using the adapted Test-of-Everyday-Attention-for-Children (TEA-Ch). We used multivariable logistic regression models and mediation analysis to investigate potential mediator role of ECS in the association between SEP and EF. 3106 children were included in the analyses. Less than 7% of the more stimulated individuals showed low performance in attention-related EFs at age 11 compared with almost 20% in the bottom groups of stimulation. Higher child stimulation scores were associated with fewer impairments in attentional-control (OR adj 0.84; CI 95% 0.72–0.98) and attentional-switching (OR adj 0.85; CI 95% 0.73–0.99). Mediation analysis suggested that for attentional-switching, ECS mediated almost 20% of the total protective effect of maternal schooling for impaired EF. Assuming causal relationships, if maximum stimulation was provided to all children, the advantageous effect of maternal schooling on EF would be reduced by 47%. ECS may represent a protective factor for cognitive impairments in childhood and can be easily implemented at relatively low cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article had as objective to present the work developed during the basic supervised stage in screening, Attending the eighth semester of the psychology course from the University Center of Várzea Grande - UNIVAG, Performed at the neurology outpatient clinic Physiotherapy of the Integrated Clinic of the University Center of Várzea Grande - UNIVAG. By means of the early stimulation of children with organic deficiency and with parents, the study presented here, intervenes to re-signify the parents-baby and professional relationships, and thus to facilitate the building of bonds between the subjects involved in this process. The development of this work was due to the increase in the number of cases of children born with organic deficiencies in Brazil from 2015, according to the Health Ministry and the importance of taking care of the relationships between children, parents and professionals for a better development of the child. To this purpose, this study used bibliographic research and experience reports that sought the basis of psychoanalytic theory, [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]