Barbara J. Powell

A Factor Analytic Study of the Frostig Developmental Test of Visual Perception

While many attempts have been made to devise methods of assessing deficits in visual perceprion with adults, there is a relative paucity of work in this area with young children. One notable exception is rhat of Frostig (1961) who has developed an easily administered test of visual perception for children between the ages of 4 and 8 yr. This test provides five subtest scores in the areas of eye-motor coordination, figure-ground perception, form constancy, position in space, and spatial relationships as well as an over-all score defined as a Perceprual Quotient. Frostig, Lefever, and Whittlesey (1961) have stated rhat these five areas of functioning as represented in the Frostig test were derived from their clinical experience. These areas are presumed to be relatively distinct from one another. In addition, these authors present some test data and state that children with learning difficulties obtained lower total scores and greater subtest scatter (range) than did normal children. Unforrunately, no tests of significance are reported to substantiate these statements. While there is little question that such a test would be of benefit to clinicians who work with children, no evidence is presented by these authors that it does anything other than measure age differences (or developmental changes). Frostig, et al. concluded that the greater degree of subtest scatter of the children with learning handicaps suggests that distinct functions of visual perception can be disturbed independently and in varying degrees (p. 392). This was the basis for a recommendation that retraining in specific areas of deficit diagnosed by the test be initiated. It could be just as cogently argued that those Ss with lower total scores and greater subtest scatter have their scores based on fewer test items and, consequently, that the increased scatter is a function of decreased reliability. Such issues became more apparent as the present writers began to use the rest. I t was noted, for example, that where subtest discrepancies occurred, Figureground and Form Constancy usually varied together. The tasks on these subtests are essentially the same--form discrimination in an overlapping context. The present study was devised and carried our to determine what common factors did in fact exist in the test scores and to determine what proportion of -

Magnesium pemoline:' Effects of training vs testing of an avoidance response

The relative effects of magnesium pemoline on learning vs performance of avoidance conditioning were assessed. The drug appeared to exert its major effect on performance through stimulant properties, but had no significant effect on learning.

More on magnesium pemoline: Differential effects of advance and immediate injections on avoidance performance

Administration time was varied in an attempt to assess effects of magnesium pemoline on avoidance performance. Advance injections enhanced avoidance performance more than immediate injections, suggesting that facilitation of performance was due to either pemoline’s stimulant action and/or to the fact that drug action is delayed.

Critical Flicker Fusion: Objective Measure Of Alcohol Tolerance?

Studies dealing with the effects of alcohol on critical flicker fusion (CFF) are reviewed. The conclusion is drawn that relatively low doses of alcohol produce a decline in the flicker fusion threshold in normal subjects. Further, data are presented regarding the effects of alcohol on CFF in 32 male alcoholics. A decrement in the CFF threshold did not occur in alcoholic subjects given 8 to 10 ounces of vodka. This result suggests that CFF may be an objective measure of alcohol tolerance.

Mediation of shock and drug-produced effects on avoidance responding

The effects of amobarbital sodium and shock intensity on avoidance learning were studied testing hypotheses regarding factors mediating their known effects. The results did not confirm a previous notion that amobarbital enhanced avoidance responding through a reduction of freezing behavior. On the other hand, freezing behavior and avoidance are related to shock intensity. Unexpectedly, escape latency was greatly slowed by the drug, leading to speculation that perhaps drug effects were mediated by increased punishment for nonresponding.

Demographic Characteristics of Black and White Male Alcoholics

The existing literature on drinking patterns of Black alcoholics is relatively limited; however, most of the data suggest that drinking behavior of Blacks may be different from that of Whites. A summary of recent studies in this area is presented in Table 1. Robins et al. (1968) indicated that heavy drinking is a common pattern among Black urban males and that drinking behavior usually resulted in objective difficulties and personal worry. Maddox and Williams (1968) reported that drinking is twice as common in urban Black men as in urban White men of similar socioeconomic class origins. King et al. (1969), in a study of the social problems of Black men, demonstrated the significance of alcohol abuse in the Black urban ghetto and how this related to broken homes, delinquency, sexual and reproductive irresponsibility, and underemployment.

Effect of alcohol on "dissociated" learning in alcoholics.

A number of studies indicate that alcohol produces state-dependent effects in man. These studies are reviewed and evidence is presented that alcoholics are probably no more susceptible to state-dependent effects from alcohol than are nonalcoholics.

Marihuana and critical flicker fusion. Evidence for perceptual sharpening.

Critical flicker fusion (CFF) has been used extensively in studying the physiology of vision. CFF refers to the minimal number of successive flashes of light per second that produces a sensation of steady light. The fusion threshold is affected by a variety of drugs having the capacity to alter central nervous system (CNS) excitability. The present study examines the effect of smoking 1g of marihuana containing 1.5 per cent (—)-Δ9- transtetrahydrocannabinol (THC) on the CFF threshold. Results of this study indicate that marihuana enhances the CFF threshold, unlike other drugs classified as CNS “depressants.” The increased excitability of the visual system following marihuana smoking is discussed with reference to previous reports of “perceptual sharpening.”

Effects of strain differences and D-amphetamine sulfate on avoidance performance

The purpose of this experiment was to investigate strain differences and amphetamine effects on avoidance performance of the Maudsley MR and MNR strains of rats. It was predicted that with amphetamine avoidance performance of the nonreactive strain would be enhanced more than that of the reactive strain. There was no significant difference in performance between the two strains; however, groups which received amphetamine had better performance than those receiving placebo.