Determination of Level of Heavy Metals, Al-Quran Memorization and Intelligence Quotient (IQ) Among Tahfiz Students in Selangor / Jurnal Sains Kesihatan Malaysia

@#Tahfiz school is an institution that specialises in educating students to memorize and recite the whole Al-Quran. Memorizing the Al-Quran by rote learning will activate the brain to improve the brain ability to process, store information and build memory. The presence of heavy metals affects the nervous system and interferes with the function of the central and peripheral nervous system which will then cause the impairment of mental and cognitive function. The ability to learn, remember or memorize, use of language and to understand something may be disrupted and cause small decrease in IQ and attention. Cross-sectional studies was conducted to measure and to determine the correlation between the levels of heavy metals, Al-Quran memorization and intelligence (IQ) among students in selected tahfiz schools compared to non-tahfiz schools in Selangor. Levels of heavy metals in nail and hair samples were analyzed by using the Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). WASI-II test for intelligence was used to measure the student’s IQ. Questionnaires was used to obtain demographic data and was analyzed by using the SPSS version 23.0. Based on the Pearson correlation test, there was a very weak negative correlation and significant relationship between manganese in the hair samples with the level of Al-Quran memorization (r= -0.178, p=0.017). In addition, there was a weak positive correlation but significant relationship between the level of intelligence (IQ) with the level of Al-Quran memorization (r= 0.375, p=<0.001). As a conclusion, the higher the concentration of manganese will cause a decline in the level of Al-Quran memorization and the higher the level of Al-Quran memorization will cause an increase in the level of intelligence (IQ).

Predictores cognitivos de la capacidad de planificación en niños de 6 y 7 años de edad / Cognitive predictors of planning ability in 6 and 7 years old children / Preditores cognitivos da capacidade de planejamento em crianças de 6 e 7 anos de idade

La planificación implica la habilidad para identificar y organizar secuencias de acciones con el fin de alcanzar metas específicas. En la literatura se observan resultados dispares respecto de cuáles son los mejores predictores de esta capacidad en niños. Nuestro objetivo en este trabajo fue identificar en qué medida la voluntad de control, el control inhibitorio perceptual, la memoria de trabajo y la inteligencia fluida explican tal capacidad en niños que inician la educación primaria básica. La muestra estuvo conformada por 289 participantes de entre 6 y 7 años de edad. Los resultados indicaron que únicamente la inteligencia fluida y la memoria de trabajo se asociaban y explicaban la capacidad de planificar. Discutimos las implicaciones de estos resultados para el diseño de futuras investigaciones.

Planning involves the ability to identify and organize sequences of actions to achieve specific goals. In scientific literature different results are observed about which are the best predictors of this capacity in children. The aim of this study is to identify to what extent effortful control, perceptual inhibitory control, working memory and fluid intelligence explain this ability in children who start basic primary education. The sample consisted of 289 participants aged between 6 and 7 years old. The results indicated that only fluid intelligence and working memory were associated with and explained planning ability. The implications of these results for the design of future research are discussed.

O planejamento envolve a habilidade de identificar e organizar sequências de ações para alcançar objetivos específicos. Na literatura, são observados resultados diferentes em relação a quais são os melhores preditores dessa capacidade em crianças. O objetivo deste trabalho é identificar em que medida o desejo de controle, o controle inibitório perceptual, a memória de trabalho e a inteligência fluida explicam essa capacidade em crianças que começam a Educação Básica Primária. A amostra foi composta de 289 participantes com idade entre 6 e 7 anos de idade. Os resultados indicaram que apenas a inteligência fluida e a memória de trabalho se associavam e explicavam a capacidade de planejar. Assim, é proposta a discussão das implicações desses resultados para o projeto de pesquisas futuras.

EEG alpha peak frequency analysis during memorizing of figures in patients with mild cognitive impairment / Análise do pico de frequência alfa do EEG durante a memorização de figuras em pacientes com comprometimento cognitivo leve

OBJECTIVE: To investigate spectral analysis of electroencephalograms (EEG) for the alpha frequency band during rest and cognitive stimulation in healthy adults and individuals with mild cognitive impairment. METHOD: We analyzed 56 EEGs from 28 patients, 7 men and 21 women, 12 of whom (40 percent) were controls, 16 patients with mild cognitive impairment (60 percent). Ages ranged from 61 to 83 years. All individuals were patients in the Psycho-geriatric Out-patients Clinic of LIM-27, of the Psychiatric Institute of the Clinicas Hospital of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of São Paulo, IPq-HCFMUSP, between 2004 and 2007. Each patient underwent two exams with an interval of at least six months between them. During the exam, performed after a period of wakefulness and rest, the patients memorized series of pictures. RESULTS: Analysis of spectral potential both at rest and during the memorizing task showed no statistical differences between baseline and final recordings. CONCLUSION: Spectral analysis of EEGs showed coherent results with the clinical stability of the patients evaluated but was unable to distinguish between the control group and patients with MCI. Future studies should include a larger sample and a longer follow up.

OBJETIVO: Realizar a análise espectral da banda de frequência alfa do EEG em adultos saudáveis, com comprometimento cognitivo leve (CCL), durante o repouso e a estimulação cognitiva. MÉTODO: Analisamos 56 EEGs de 28 pacientes, 7 homens e 21 mulheres, 12 dos quais (40 por cento) controles, 16 pacientes com CCL (60 por cento), com idades entre 61 a 83 anos.Todos os pacientes foram atendidos no serviço de psicogeriatria do LIM 27, do Instituto de Psiquiatria da Faculdade de Medicina da USP,entre os anos de 2004 a 2007, sendo que cada paciente realizou 2 exames com intervalo de 6 meses entre eles. Os registros dos EEGs foram realizados em repouso e durante a realização de atividade de memorização de figuras. RESULTADOS: A analise espectral durante o repouso e a tarefa de memorização não mostraram diferenças estatísticas entre os EEGs iniciais e finais. CONCLUSÃO: A análise espectral dos EEGs mostrou-se coerente com a estabilidade clínica dos dois grupos, no entanto não foi capaz de distinguir o grupo controle do grupo CCL. Estudos futuros deverão incluir um maior número de indivíduos por um tempo maior de seguimento.

Effects of Macrotermes anadelei and Polyrachis dives on process of learning and memorization

The water extracts of Macrotermes anadelei and Polyrachis dives were shown to improve the memorization power of rats at the dose of 10 mg/kg body weight. After the 21-days training for one trial learning avoidance test, the time the rats remained in the bright chamber was reduced to 47.2% for those received M. anadelei, and 43.6% for P. dives, not significantly lower than Ginkgo biloba (50.6%). In Morris Water Maze, both those extracts were also proved to boost the process of learning and memorization in mice.