2001 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary
Development of Mind : Developmental Disorder
| Project/Area Number |
09207102
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Priority Areas (A)
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| Allocation Type | Single-year Grants |
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| Research Institution | Kyoto University |
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Principal Investigator |
KOJIMA Syouzo Kyoto University, Primate Research Institute, Professor, 霊長類研究所, 教授 (70027499)
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| Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) |
NAGASAKI Tsutomu Tsukuba University, Institution of Special Education, Assistant Professor, 心身障害学系, 助教授 (80172518)
TATSUMI Itaru Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, Chief, 室長 (40073027)
SUGISHITA Morihiro Tokyo University, Department of Medicine, Professor, 医学系研究科, 教授 (10114513)
KAWASHIMA Ryuta Tohoku University, Institution of Development, Aging and Cancer, Professor, 加齢医学研究所, 講師 (90250828)
YAMAMOTO Junichi Keio University, Department of Literature, Professor, 心身障害学系, 助教授 (60202389)
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| Project Period (FY) |
1997 – 2000
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| Keywords | Computer Assisted Instruction / Stimulus Equivalence / Developmental Disorders / Theory of Mind / Functional Imaging / f-MRI / PET / Aging |
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| Research Abstract |
In this project, we tried to introduce new behavioral and physiological techniques to the study of disabilities on cognition and language, especially developmental disabilities. One approach was the use of computers for the training of comprehension and reading of written letters and words in the home of autistic children or learning disabilities. The stimulus equivalence paradigm was used. Another approach was the introduction of scripts to analyze and to train the communication in children with down syndrome. In this study, the cognition of the intention of others in communication was examined. This is the precursor of the theory of mind.
We introduced neuroimaging techniques to the studies of disabilities. Positron CT and functional MRI were used. It was reported that the human amygdala plays an important function for detecting gaze direction. This finding is related to a neuronal basis of autistic children. Functional MRI studies were conducted to find simple methods for determining the dominance hemisphere. A PET study revealed that the decrease in regional cerebral blood flow in the left temporal or frontal cortex during word finding in aged humans. These results may explain difficulty of retrieval of words in aged people.
Aged monkeys showed difficulties in forming learning set and inhibit inadequate response tendencies. In addition, aged monkeys have difficulties in associating objects and reward and/or non-reward. These behavioral tendencies are common to both monkeys and humans, and suggest that the decline of the functions of the ventral parts of the frontal cortex.
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Research Products
(16 results)
