Cognitive Function in Child Development

In a long-term study, funded by the National Institute of Child Health and Development (NICHD), the effects of stress during pregnancy, brain structure and developmental abnormalities including measures of the HPA axis, behavior, and cognition were evaluated in 600 children between the ages of 6-11. For each child an extensive pre- and perinatal history was collected, including measures of psychosocial stress, endocrine markers and medical history collected serially during pregnancy from as early as week 12 of gestation through 6-8 weeks postpartum.

Endocrine and behavioral responses to stress were assessed in children from the prenatal cohort using salivary cortisol assessments and standardized questionnaires. Cognitive function and development was assessed with two different batteries: 1) a computerized neuropsychological assessment system (CMINDS®, NeuroComp Systems Inc., Irvine, CA) and 2) a set of standardized measures of intelligence.

Prenatal Protocol

Subjects were followed to term and birth outcome was recorded. At six to eight weeks postpartum, assessments of the mother and infant were conducted (stress, medical history, infant health and well-being, infant temperament).

CMINDS^® Computerized Neuropsychological Evaluations

CMINDS^® has been applied in this long term study aimed at examining the effects of prenatal stress on brain structure and developmental abnormalities including measures of the HPA axis, behavior, and cognition. The CMINDS® Sequential Memory Test, Set Shifting Test, Go/No-Go Test, Continuous Recognition Memory Test, Finger Tapping Test, and Flanker Test were selected for their sensitivity to memory and executive functioning. Learn More>>

CMINDS^® Administration

These computerized tests were administered on CMINDS^® unique dual monitor computer system (Figure 10). This system allows for an investigator to be seated next to the child with a separate monitor so that performance could be continuously observed. All task instructions were prerecorded for standardized presentation to participants and CMINDS® automatically calculated and stored data in the database to ensure scoring was standardized.

Figure 10