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PERFORMANCE ON ELEMENTARY COGNITIVE TASKS IN DOWN SYNDROME AND FRAGILE X SYNDROME

Koenig, Katherine A
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1187138851

Abstract Details

2008, Doctor of Philosophy, Case Western Reserve University, Psychology.
The system theory of intelligence (Detterman, 1987) predicts that mental retardation is the result of a deficit in a central component of intelligence. Complex cognitive tasks should show little to no between-syndrome differences, while tasks that tap that tap few central cognitive components, known as elementary cognitive tasks, may show differences. The aim of the current study is to test the system theory of intelligence by identifying differences in elementary cognitive task performance and on WAIS-III subtest performance between two genetic syndromes that cause mild and moderate mental retardation. Participants were administered the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-III (WAIS-III) and a portion of the Cognitive Abilities Test (CAT), a computer-based assessment measuring performance on a variety of simple cognitive tasks (Detterman, 1988). A discriminant analysis showed that several subtests of the WAIS-III and one of the CAT measures were able to predict group membership. Overall, the WAIS-III did a better job of predicting performance than the CAT. While the current results do not go against the general predictions of the system theory, they do suggest that complex cognitive tasks are able to discriminate between genetic syndromes, challenging the hypothesis that mental retardation is the result of a deficit in one or a few central components. Possible causes of between-syndrome differences are discussed.
Douglas Detterman (Advisor)
283 p.
Psychology, Experimental
WAIS-III; subtest; FX; SYNDROME; DS; WAIS-III subtest; Digit Span

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Koenig, K. A. (2008). PERFORMANCE ON ELEMENTARY COGNITIVE TASKS IN DOWN SYNDROME AND FRAGILE X SYNDROME [Doctoral dissertation, Case Western Reserve University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1187138851

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Koenig, Katherine. PERFORMANCE ON ELEMENTARY COGNITIVE TASKS IN DOWN SYNDROME AND FRAGILE X SYNDROME. 2008. Case Western Reserve University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1187138851.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Koenig, Katherine. "PERFORMANCE ON ELEMENTARY COGNITIVE TASKS IN DOWN SYNDROME AND FRAGILE X SYNDROME." Doctoral dissertation, Case Western Reserve University, 2008. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1187138851

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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© 2007, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Case Western Reserve University School of Graduate Studies and OhioLINK.