What kids need to build a better brain

Interesting common sense report on what kids really need to develop cognitively.  Thanks to the Science Blog for the brief post.


Technorati Tags: psychology, neuroscience, neurology, cognition, education, developmental psychology, cognitive development, brain, intelligence

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ADHD medication and the prefrontal cortext

Interesting news article of research that implicates changes in the prefrontal cortexr due to ADHD medication.


Technorati Tags: psychololgy, ADHD, ritalin, prefrontal cortex, neuroscience, neurology, neuropsychology, education, learning disabilities, special education, medication

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High IQ and brain development FYI

Thanks to the Eide Neurolearning blog for the FYI post (and link to article) re: developmental brain differences in kids with high intelligence.


Technorati Tags: psychology, intelligence, IQ, gifted, neuroscience, neurology, neuropsychology, education, achievement, educational psychology

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Recent literature of interest - 6-23-06

This weeks recent literature of interest can be found by clicking here.


Technorati tags: teaching tool. psychology.

Books by Sir Francis Galton

Thanks to the Gene Expression blog for the post regarding the ability (and availability) to purchase books by one of the fathers of individual differences research---Sir Francis Galton.


Technorati Tags: psychology, individual differences, educatdional psychology, psychometrics, Galton, Sir Francis Galton, genetics, measurement, psychological assessment, IQ testing

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DSM-IV Prelude Project

For those who want to stay abreast in the DSM-V revision that is in process, check out the DSM-V Prelude Project web page.


Technorati Tags: psychology, psychiatry, diagnosis, classification, DSM, DSM-V, DSM-IV, DSM Prelude Project

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Video on "is psychology a science?"

Thanks to Mind Hacks for the link to a video starring an 11 year old who briefly ponders the question --- "Is psychology a science?"


Technorati Tags: psychology, educational psychology, school psychology, neuropsychology, science, theory

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Working memory key to understanding cognition/intelligence?

Interesting news article regarding forthcomming issue of Neuroscience that focuses on the critical importance of cross-disciplinary research re: the importance of working memory in understeanding cognition/intelligence.


Technorati Tags: psychology, intelligence, cognition, Gsm, working memory, neurospcyhology, neuroscience

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Aphasia screening instruments

Thanks to the Brain Blog for the brief post (with abstractd) re: article dealin with aphasia screening instruments.


Technorati Tags: psychology, aphasia, neuropsychology, screening, assessment

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More on need for quantitative psychologists

I've previously posted information about the demand for psychologists with skills in psychometrices. A September article in the APA Monitor reinforces the increasing need for quantiatively trained psychologists.


Technorati Tags: psychology, educational psycholoogy, quantitative, psychometrics, measurement, assessment

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Recent literature of interest - 6-16-06

This weeks recent literature of interest can be found by clicking here.


Technorati tags: teaching tool. psychology.

LD dyslexia screening in first grade?

Thanks to the LD Blog for the news out of Misssisssippi that their legislature is discussing possible mandated screening of all first grade students for possible reading disabilities (dyslexia)


Technorati Tags: psychology, school psychology, educational psychology, education, LD, learning disability, dyslexia, screening, NCLB, drop outs

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Executive functioning and the brain

Tip-of-the hat to the Developing Intelligence Blog (again) for the post regarding recent research on executive functioning


Technorati Tags: psychololgy, educational psychology, neuropsychology, neuroscience, exectuvie function, brain, frontal cortex, thinking, fMRI

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Stat rappers - statistics can be cool

Thanks to Tim Keith for forwarding me a link to a rapping video called "stats 4 life."  Who said stats ain't cool.


Technorati Tags: psychology, educational psychology, statistics, measurement, rappers, stats 4 life, stats rappers, education, teaching tool

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Psychological testing of athletes

This may be a bit off track, but I found it interesting.  See post at the Neuroethics and Law Blog regarding issues surrounding the confidentiality of psychological testing of potential NBA draft picks.


Technorati Tags: psychological testing, psychological assessment, confidentiality, ethics, NBA

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Recent literature of interest - 6-9-06

This weeks recent literature of interest can be found by clicking here.


Technorati tags: teaching tool. psychology.

Creativity, Glr and fMRI research

Tip-of-the-hat (again) to the Eide Neurolearning blog for an FYI post (and many useful links) regarding recent fMRI research in the somewhat psychometrically fuzzy domain of creativity.

CHC note - many of the fluency narrow ability factors in the broad domain of Glr (long-term retrieval) are often labeled as indicators of creativity.


Technorati Tags: psychology, educational psychology, cognition, creativity, intelligence, CHC theory, Glr, long-term retrieval, fluency, fMRI, neuropsychology, neuroscience, education

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For the quantoid readers - overview of exploratory factor analysis issue article

The following is a post by the blogmaster (Kevin McGrew), who is also a member of IQs Corner Virtual Community of Scholars project.

There can be no doubt that the statistical tool of factor analysis has played a huge role in individual differences research, particularly in the development and validation of theories of intelligence. And, few would also argue that the history of how to properly run factor analysis has been a hot topic of debate for decades. There is a plethora of journal articles, books, and book chapters devoted to this method.

With this in mind, it was a pleasant surprise to stumble across the exploratory factor analysis (EFA) article listed below. Although much has been written, to the neophyte it is often hard to get an grasp on some of the major issues and nuances of the various steps involved. The Henson and Roberts article provides and excellent overview of the major steps and issues in EFA and ends with some author recommendations on how to use and report EFA studies. I found the literature review the most useful and recommend it for reading by those who are (a) experienced in EFA (to provide some reminders of the key issues---also as a good article to cite for background regarding the issues in one's own work), (b) novices who want to get "up-to-speed" regarding some of the key issues and methodological nuances, and (c) others who read research articles that are based on EFA (to better evaluate the appropriateness and rigor of the methods used in research reports).

• Hensen, R. & Roberts, J. (2006). Use of exploratory factor analysis in published research: Common errors and some some comment on improved practice. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 66 (3), 393-416. (click here to view)
  

Abstract

• Given the proliferation of factor analysis applications in the literature, the present article examines the use of factor analysis in current published research across four psychological journals. Notwithstanding ease of analysis due to computers, the appropriate use of factor analysis requires a series of thoughtful researcher judgments. These judgments directly affect results and interpretations. The authors examine across studies (a) the decisions made while conducting exploratory factor analyses (N = 60) and (b) the information reported from the analyses. In doing so, they present a reviewof the current status of factor analytic practice, including comment on common errors in use and reporting. Recommendations are proffered for future practice as regards analytic decisions and reporting in empirical research.

Technorati Tags: psychology, educational psychology, intelligence, statistics, exploratory factor analysis, factor analysis, EFA, psychometrics, intelligence theory

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Off task - how to drive a cat nuts with your notebook computer

This is a GREAT video on how to tease a cat with a notebook computer. Very funny and cute. Click here.

Ga musical abilities - on-line test--a teaching tool for CHC theory?

I discovered a nice new blog today----the BioBehavioral blog.  Lots of good stuff.  One post of interest is a link to an on-line musical listening test, which could be viewed as a teaching tool to help people understand the CHC Ga abilities of:

• Memory for Sound Patterns (UM) --- Ability to retain [on a short-term basis] auditory events such as tones, tonal patterns, and voices) and,
•  Musical Discrimination and Judgment (U1 U9) ---ability to discriminate and judge tonal patterns in music with respect to melodic, harmonic, and expressive aspects  (e.g., phrasing, tempo, harmonic complexity, intensity variations).

Technorati Tags: psychology, cognition, intelligence, music, muscial ability, Ga, auditory processing, IQ testing, intelligence, teaching tool

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Recent literature of interest - 06-01-06

This weeks recent literature of interest can be found by clicking here.


Technorati tags: teaching tool. psychology.

Quote to note - Einstein on what "counts"

Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted -- Albert Einstein, quoted in the Indianapolis Star

Quotes to note - critics and believing

One person with a belief is equal to the force of 99 who have only interests -- John Stuart Mill, quoted in the Columbus, Ohio, Dispatch

A critic is a man who knows the way but can't drive the car -- Tehater critic, Kenneth Tynan, quoted in the Duluth, Mn News-Tribune

New study on early detection of autism

Interesting summary of study (over on the Science blog) that reports on developmental "red flags" for the early detection of autism


Technorati Tags: psychology, special education, autism, neuropsychology, school psychology, early identification, screening, cognition, neuroscience

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Improving recognition memory via visual "flicker"

Can "visual flicker" enhance recognition memory?  Check out another interesting post on the Developing Intelligence blog for more info.


Technorati Tags: psychology, educational psychology, neuropsycghology, cognition, memory, Glr, intelligence

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