title: Early information processing among infants with and without spina bifida.
abstract: This study focuses on the development of early visual information processing among infants with spina bifida (SB) compared to typically developing infants using the habituation-dishabituation paradigm. Analyses were conducted in two stages. First infants were evaluated to determine if 18-month old infants (SB=47; Control=40) differed in their ability to shift attention and habituate to two female faces, as well as their responses to composite and novel stimuli. Second, relations between these variables and infant motor and mental functioning were evaluated. The results of the study indicated that difficulties with visual attention skills can be detected as early as 18 months of age among infants with SB. Infants with SB differed significantly from controls on attention getting. Although there were no differences found on habituation and composite tasks, infants with SB differed significantly from controls on their ability to dishabituate. Implications are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA. Heather.Taylor@uth.tmc.edu
authors.forename: Heather B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Susan H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Landry
authors.forename: Marcia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barnes
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Swank
authors.forename: Leslie B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: Jack
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fletcher
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000209:etiology*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual / Q000502:physiology; D010468:Perceptual Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D016135:Spinal Dysraphism / Q000150:complications*