title: Neurodevelopmental pathways to preterm children's specific and general mathematic abilities.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Preterm children have problems with mathematics but knowledge about the predictors of specific mathematic abilities in preterm populations is scarce.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study investigated neurodevelopmental pathways to children's general and specific mathematic abilities across the full gestational age range.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective geographically defined longitudinal investigation in Germany.
  
  
  METHODS
  947 children across the full gestational age range (23-41 weeks). Outcome measures. At 8 years, children's cognitive and mathematic abilities were measured and residuals of a regression predicting mathematic scores by IQ were used to identify specific mathematic abilities.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Neurodevelopmental cascade models revealed that adverse effects of preterm birth on mathematic abilities were mediated by neonatal risk. Specific mathematic abilities were uniquely predicted by the duration of hospitalization and ventilation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prolonged neonatal medical treatment and, in particular, mechanical ventilation may lead to specific impairments in mathematic tasks. These findings have implications for the mode of respiratory support in neonates, routine follow-up and intervention planning as well as research about brain reorganization after preterm birth.
authors.affiliation: Department of Developmental Psychology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany; Department of Psychology, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jaekel
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neonatology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bartmann
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK; Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK. Electronic address: D.Wolke@warwick.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Dieter
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wolke
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D062071:Infant, Extremely Premature / Q000502:physiology*; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000502:physiology*; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
keywords: Gestational age; Mathematic abilities; Neonatal risk; Preterm; Ventilation