Domain-general and domain-specific influences on emerging numerical cognition: Contrasting uni-and bidirectional prediction models

Domain-general skills such as executive functions (EFs), and domain-specific skills such as non-symbolic number sense and symbolic understanding are often pitted against each other as predictors of emerging maths. Here we aimed to investigate early childhood relations between these foundational skills with a balanced, longitudinal design. One hundred and seventy 3- and 4-year-old-children were tested at two time points, 5 months apart, on four domain-general executive and five domain-specific numeracy tasks. A latent EF factor was a strong predictor of symbolic maths and of their growth. In addition, stronger symbolic maths at Time 1 was correlated with later stronger EF, but symbolic maths did not predict EF growth. Our findings provide novel insights into dynamic interplay between general and specific cognitive skills contributing to preschool maths.

Psychosurgery: description and outcome study of a regional service

The report indicates that a psychosurgery service can be established on a regional basis. The outcome study of the Yorkshire Regional Psychosurgery Service indicates that the treatment should retain a place in the treatment of patients who have failed to respond to other available approaches. For such patients (and their carers) life is a state of persisting torment. Some psychiatrists consider psychosurgery as a procedure not to be countenanced, or outmoded, but patients have a right to know what may be achieved by the treatment and at what cost in terms of possible failure to improve and adverse effects. An audit of the Regional Psychosurgery Service indicates a favourable result of the Intervention. All patients improved to some extent, some very remarkably, and no adverse effects were encountered.

The Wenckebach phenomenon in sino-atrial block

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