Executive functioning and social skills in children with epileptic seizures and non-epileptic seizures.

Children experiencing epileptic seizures (ES) and children experiencing non-epileptic seizures (NES) may experience deficits in both executive functioning and in social skills, but little research has examined differences in executive functioning between the two groups and no studies have examined the relationship between executive functioning and social skills in pediatric ES and NES groups. The purposes of this study were to determine if ES/NES group differences exist for executive functioning and to determine if executive functioning was related to social skills in these groups. Children (N = 43) were recruited from epilepsy monitoring units (EMU) at Primary Children's Medical Center and Phoenix Children's Hospital. The NES group consisted of 15 participants (67 % female, M age at test = 12.62, SD = 3.33), and the ES group consisted of 28 participants (50 % female, M age at testing = 11.79, SD = 3.12). Parents and children completed the Social Skills Improvement System (SSIS) Rating Scales, and the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF). No significant differences on measures of executive functioning were observed between ES and NES groups. Parent reports of poorer behavioral regulation correlated to parent reports of poorer social skills in both groups, but neither parent nor child ratings of executive functioning correlated with child-reported social skills. This finding suggests there may be differences between parent and child self-observations of executive functioning and social skills in both NES and ES groups. Limitations to this study and directions for future research are discussed.

Long-term cognitive and neuroanatomical stability in patients with anoxic amnesia: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND: Anoxia can result in selective hippocampal damage with associated impairments in declarative memory. Whilst memory impairments and brain structures are thought to be stable, there are little data regarding the effects of ageing or change over time in patients with amnesia from anoxic brain injury. METHODS: To assess change over time, we compared structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with data obtained over ten years previously in two well-characterized patients with amnesia (JRW and RS) who experienced an anoxic brain injury. Six healthy, age-matched control participants were recruited to compare brain volumes with the patients at Time 2. Wechsler adult intelligence scale-revised and Wechsler memory scale-revised scores were compared to scores on the same tests administered 13 and 19 years prior. RESULTS: Patients with amnesia had significantly smaller hippocampal volumes than controls, but comparable medial temporal lobe and ventricular volumes. Memory, intellectual function and brain volumes were stable over time. CONCLUSION: Patients with an amnesia due to anoxia have memory impairments and smaller hippocampal volumes compared to controls; however, memory, intelligence and structural volumes remain stable over time. At ages 50 and 57, they do not appear to have early age-associated cognitive decline that is sometimes observed in patients with traumatic brain injury.

Right frontal pole cortical thickness and executive functioning in children with traumatic brain injury: the impact on social problems.

Cognitive and social outcomes may be negatively affected in children with a history of traumatic brain injury (TBI). We hypothesized that executive function would mediate the association between right frontal pole cortical thickness and problematic social behaviors. Child participants with a history of TBI were recruited from inpatient admissions for long-term follow-up (n = 23; average age = 12.8, average time post-injury =3.2 years). Three measures of executive function, the Trail Making Test, verbal fluency test, and the Conners' Continuous Performance Test-Second edition (CPT-II), were administered to each participant while caregivers completed the Childhood Behavior Checklist (CBCL). All participants underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging following cognitive testing. Regression analysis demonstrated right frontal pole cortical thickness significantly predicted social problems. Measures of executive functioning also significantly predicted social problems; however, the mediation model testing whether executive function mediated the relationship between cortical thickness and social problems was not statistically significant. Right frontal pole cortical thickness and omission errors on the CPT-II predicted Social Problems on the CBCL. Results did not indicate that the association between cortical thickness and social problems was mediated by executive function.

Right frontal pole cortical thickness and social competence in children with chronic traumatic brain injury: cognitive proficiency as a mediator.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between right frontal pole cortical thickness, social competence, and cognitive proficiency in children participants with a history of chronic traumatic brain injury (TBI). PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-three children (65% male; M age = 12.8 years, SD = 2.3 years) at least 1 year post-injury (M = 3.3 years, SD = 1.7 years) were evaluated with the Cognitive Proficiency Index (CPI) from the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, 4th Edition, and their caregiver completed the Child Behavior Checklist. Social competence was evaluated with the Social Competence and Social Problems subscales from the Child Behavior Checklist. Right frontal pole cortical thickness was calculated via FreeSurfer from high-resolution 3-dimensional T1 magnetic resonance imaging scans. RESULTS: Direct effect of right frontal pole cortical thickness on social competence was significant (ß = 14.09, SE = 4.6, P < .01). Right frontal pole cortical thickness significantly predicted CPI (ß = 18.44, SE = 4.9, P < .05), and CPI significantly predicted social competence (ß = 0.503, SE = 0.17, P < .01). Findings were consistent with the hypothesized mediation model. CONCLUSIONS: The association between right frontal lobe cortical integrity and social competence in pediatric participants with chronic TBI may be mediated through cognitive proficiency.