Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 16, 2026

Infant Auditory Processing and Event-related Brain Oscillations
06:34

Infant Auditory Processing and Event-related Brain Oscillations

Published on: July 1, 2015

The association between cord pH at birth and intellectual function in childhood

Elena Svirko1, Jane Mellanby, Lawrence Impey

  • 1Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.

Early Human Development
|March 24, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Birth acidemia, a common condition, is linked to better literacy and non-verbal intelligence in children. This study suggests acidemia alone may not be detrimental, warranting further research into labor

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal physiology
  • Developmental psychology
  • Pediatric neurology

Background:

  • Acidemia at birth is a frequent occurrence.
  • Long-term effects of neonatal acidemia are not well understood.
  • Investigating the impact of birth pH on cognitive development is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the correlation between umbilical cord arterial pH at birth and cognitive function in children.
  • To determine if birth pH is a predictor of intellectual development.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective cohort study of 6-8-year-old children with available obstetric data.
  • Umbilical cord arterial pH levels were correlated with cognitive assessments.
  • Statistical analyses included parametric and partial correlations, controlling for confounding factors.

Main Results:

  • A significant negative correlation was observed between arterial pH and literacy scores (p=0.001).
  • Arterial pH was also negatively correlated with non-verbal intelligence scores (p=0.033).
  • Lower birth pH was associated with higher cognitive scores in literacy and non-verbal intelligence.

Conclusions:

  • Lower umbilical cord arterial pH is associated with enhanced literacy and non-verbal intelligence in early childhood.
  • These findings suggest that isolated acidemia at birth may not be an adverse outcome.
  • Further research is needed to explore the relationship between labor and long-term cognitive outcomes.
Abstract

More Related Videos

A Battery of Motor Tests in a Neonatal Mouse Model of Cerebral Palsy10:02

A Battery of Motor Tests in a Neonatal Mouse Model of Cerebral Palsy

Published on: November 3, 2016

A Method for Investigating Age-related Differences in the Functional Connectivity of Cognitive Control Networks Associated with Dimensional Change Card Sort Performance09:01

A Method for Investigating Age-related Differences in the Functional Connectivity of Cognitive Control Networks Associated with Dimensional Change Card Sort Performance

Published on: May 7, 2014

Related Concept Videos

Biological Influences on Intelligence01:30

Biological Influences on Intelligence

Intelligence is often thought to be linked to brain size, but the relationship is more complex than that. While brain size does correlate modestly with some abilities, like verbal skills, the connection is weaker for others, such as spatial reasoning. Other factors, like brain structure, also play crucial roles. For instance, despite Einstein's smaller-than-average brain, his parietal cortex, which is involved in spatial reasoning, was 15% wider, suggesting that neural density might matter more...
Environmental Influences on Intelligence01:29

Environmental Influences on Intelligence

Despite the strong genetic influence on traits like intelligence, environmental factors significantly shape outcomes. For example, while over 90% of height variation is due to genetic differences, environmental factors such as nutrition also have a notable impact. Similarly, for intelligence, changes in a child's surroundings can significantly alter their IQ. Research shows that enriched environments boost children's academic success and help them develop key cognitive skills. Children from...
Intellectual Disability01:29

Intellectual Disability

Intellectual disability (ID) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by deficits in intellectual and adaptive functioning that manifest during the developmental period. This condition encompasses challenges in reasoning, memory, problem-solving, and learning, accompanied by impairments in everyday life skills, such as communication, self-care, and social interactions. Intellectual disability affects approximately 1% of the population in the United States, impacting an estimated 5...
Language and Cognition01:27

Language and Cognition

Language serves as a bridge between ideas and communication, influencing how individuals perceive and interact with the world. Psychologists have long debated whether language shapes thought or vice versa. This discussion gained grip with Edward Sapir and Benjamin Lee Whorf in the 1940s, who proposed that language determines thought, a concept known as linguistic determinism. They suggested that the vocabulary and structure of a language influence how its speakers think and perceive reality.
Information Processing Approach01:30

Information Processing Approach

The information-processing theory of cognitive development centers on fundamental mental processes, including attention, memory, and problem-solving skills. Researchers in this field examine how cognitive abilities, such as working memory, evolve and influence children's overall development. Studies indicate that children with stronger working memory tend to excel in reading comprehension, math, and problem-solving compared to peers with less efficient memory skills. Low working memory is also...
Binet's Contribution to Measures of Intelligence01:23

Binet's Contribution to Measures of Intelligence

Alfred Binet, along with his student Théophile Simon, was tasked by the French Ministry of Education in 1904 to create a method for identifying students who struggled to learn through conventional classroom instruction. This initiative aimed to address overcrowding by placing such students in specialized schools. Binet and Simon developed an intelligence test comprising 30 tasks, ranging from simple commands, like touching one's nose or ear, to more complex tasks, such as drawing designs from...