title: Cognitive characteristics of children with genetic syndromes.
abstract: This article presents the cognitive profile observed in children with one of several common genetic syndromes associated with "nonverbal learning disorders." It introduces the concept of a cognitive endophenotype to help explain the similar pattern of impairments across the syndromes. It explores the explanation of diverse impairments in higher-order visual, spatial, temporal, numerical, and executive cognitive competencies deriving from origins in more basic attentional and spatial cognitive dysfunctions. The importance of a developmental approach to understanding dysfunction is stressed.
authors.affiliation: University of California, Davis, M.I.N.D. Institute, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA. tjsimon@ucdavis.edu
authors.forename: Tony J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Simon
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology*