Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 30, 2026
19:15
Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
Published on: August 25, 2014
90.5K
Cognitive abilities in preterm and term-born adolescents
Luke A Schneider1, Nicholas R Burns2, Lynne C Giles3
1Research Center for Early Origins of Health and Disease, Robinson Institute, School of Pediatrics and Reproductive Health, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia.
The Journal of Pediatrics
|May 6, 2014
Summary
Gestational age (GA) has minimal impact on adolescent cognitive abilities. Prenatal and postnatal environmental factors, like social disadvantage and birth weight, are stronger predictors of cognitive development in adolescents.
Area of Science:
- Developmental neuroscience
- Adolescent psychology
- Cognitive development
Background:
- Cognitive development in adolescents is influenced by various factors.
- Understanding these influences is crucial for early intervention and support.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of prenatal and postnatal factors on cognitive development in adolescents.
- To explore the relationship between neurophysiological measures and cognitive outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Assessed cognitive abilities using Woodcock-Johnson III Tests of Cognitive Abilities.
- Measured corticomotor excitability via transcranial magnetic stimulation and electromyography.
- Employed relative importance regression modeling to analyze factor influences.
Main Results:
- Higher gestational age (GA) correlated with better cognitive abilities and corticomotor excitability.
- Corticomotor excitability was a stronger predictor of cognitive outcome than GA.
- Social disadvantage, birthweight percentile, and height were the strongest predictors of cognitive outcome.
Conclusions:
- Gestational age explains limited interindividual variability in cognitive abilities among neurologically healthy adolescents.
- Reduced brain connectivity may underlie cognitive deficits in preterm children.
- The relative importance of heritability versus the postnatal environment on cognitive development requires further investigation.
Related Concept Videos
01:18Cognitive Development During Adolescence
1.0K
During adolescence, individuals experience significant cognitive development that enhances their understanding of others' emotions and thoughts, known as cognitive empathy. This period is marked by an increased ability to adapt to others' perspectives and a more nuanced understanding of others' mental states, a skill that is foundational for social problem-solving and conflict avoidance. The development of cognitive empathy relies heavily on the theory of mind — the...
1.0K
01:30Information Processing Approach
889
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...
889
01:24Revisionist Views of Adolescent and Adult Cognition
468
A revisionist approach to Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development has brought new insights that challenge and reinterpret his established ideas. Piaget proposed that the formal operational stage, emerging in adolescence, represents the culmination of cognitive maturity. During this stage, individuals are said to develop abstract thinking, engage in systematic problem-solving, and show a form of egocentrism, believing others are as preoccupied with their behavior as they are...
468
01:19Piaget's Stage 4 of Cognitive Development
1.2K
The formal operational stage, as described in Piaget's cognitive development theory, begins around age 11 and extends into adulthood. It marks the emergence of advanced cognitive abilities that differentiate adolescent and adult thinking from those of younger children. This stage is characterized by abstract reasoning, hypothetical-deductive reasoning, and a more complex understanding of self and others.
Abstract Reasoning and Hypothetical-Deductive Thinking
Unlike the concrete operational...
Abstract Reasoning and Hypothetical-Deductive Thinking
Unlike the concrete operational...
1.2K
01:14Piaget's Stage 2 of Cognitive Development
1.4K
The preoperational stage, the second of Jean Piaget's four stages of cognitive development, spans approximately ages 2 to 7 and is characterized by the emergence of symbolic thinking. During this stage, children use language, images, and symbols to represent objects and concepts, enabling them to engage in imaginative and pretend play. This symbolic thinking supports children's ability to perform make-believe actions, such as imagining a broom as a horse or their hand as a phone, blending...
1.4K
01:21The Nativist Approach
644
The nativist approach to infant cognitive development proposes that infants are born with inherent knowledge structures that allow them to interpret the world almost immediately. This perspective contrasts with earlier developmental theories, such as those proposed by Jean Piaget, which emphasized a more gradual acquisition of cognitive abilities through interaction with the environment. One key concept in this approach is object permanence — the understanding that objects continue to...
644