Five elementary and secondary school teachers describe how they stimulate and motivate their students early in the morning. Strategies include playing and "jiving" to music, acting energetic and providing a highly charged classroom environment, participating in oral conversation (in Spanish class), playing a game, and doing a calendar routine. (SM)

Rett syndrome is a neuro-developmental disorder that almost exclusively affects females. In addition to neuro-developmental regression and loss of hand skills, apraxia, deceleration of head growth, and increasing spasticity and scoliosis, a number of behavioural features are also seen, including stereotypic hand movements, hyperventilation and…

Functional lesion studies have yielded new information about the cortical organization of speech perception in the human brain. We will review a number of recent findings, focusing on studies of speech perception that use the techniques of electrocortical mapping by cortical stimulation and hemispheric anesthetization by intracarotid amobarbital.…

The right and left visual fields each project to the contralateral cerebral hemispheres, but the extent of the functional overlap of the two hemifields along the vertical meridian is still under debate. After presenting the spatial, temporal, and functional specifications of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), we show that TMS is particularly…

CPEB-1 is a sequence-specific RNA binding protein that stimulates the polyadenylation-induced translation of mRNAs containing the cytoplasmic polyadenylation element (CPE). Although CPEB-1 was identified originally in Xenopus oocytes, it has also been found at postsynaptic sites of hippocampal neurons where, in response to N-methyl-D-aspartate…

This article describes a dynamic, short-term art therapy approach that has been developed for the treatment of trauma related disorders. Using a modified Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) protocol with alternating tactile and auditory bilateral stimulation, associations are rapidly brought to conscious awareness and expressed in…

Photosensitivity or photoparoxysmal response (PPR) is a highly heritable electroencephalographic trait characterized by an abnormal cortical response to intermittent photic stimulation (IPS). In PPR-positive individuals, IPS induces spikes, spike-waves or intermittent slow waves. The PPR may be restricted to posterior visual areas (i.e. local PPR…

This article analyzes the attraction of stimulation produced by a visuotactile sensory substitution device, which was designed to provide optical information to infants who are blind via a tactile modality. The device was first tested on sighted infants, to demonstrate that this type of stimulation on the abdomen is pleasant and rewarding in…

A method of water learning (teaching low level motor coordination in water, rather than on land) has been developed for stimulating the growth and skills of severely handicapped students. The model, which attempts to elicit natural developmental responses to the environment, incorporates task analysis of developmental preswimming sequences…

The study was designed to make a 6 year old autistic child's learning sessions more productive by reducing three self stimulatory rituals. Treatment involved structured academic sessions involving the S and one other child in basic motor and vocal imitation training which was done according to Discrete Trial Format followed by structured play. In…

The paper summarized the rationale for early intervention programs and describes the major components of the Project WISP (Wyoming Infant Stimulation Program) center-based program for handicapped young children (18-36 months). Early intervention for handicapped children is justified from five points-of-view: prevention of failure during subsequent…

The author postulates that cultural factors related to technological innovations and an overstimulating environment may be as responsible for the incidence of hyperactivity as the organic and emotional causes usually studied. (GW)

Nine severely retarded individuals (ages 12-20) who body rocked made choices among three conditions: a rocking chair under the individual's control (active stimulation), the experimenter's control (passive stimulation), or stationary. Results were interpreted as showing that self-stimulation involves at least two independent processes: control and…

Longitudinal data from 51 children with Down syndrome reared at home and participating in an infant stimultion program were evaluated. Results suggest that infant stimulation programs along with home rearing and training have improved the functions of children with Down syndrome. (Author/CL)

Three punishment procedures--contingent applications of water mist, lemon juice, and vinegar--were evaluated as aversive treatment methods for a self-stimulatory behavior exhibited by a severely retarded 11-year-old male. The water mist procedure was as effective as lemon juice or vinegar, presented less physical threat to the client, and was…