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  • Dr. Marcel Kinsbourne is an Austrian-born and English-educated pediatric neurologist and cognitive neuroscientist. Cu... moreedit
Individuals with autistic spectrum disorders (ASDs) often experience, describe and exhibit unusual patterns of sensation and attention. These anomalies have been hypothesized to result from overarousal and consequent overfocused... more
Individuals with autistic spectrum disorders (ASDs) often experience, describe and exhibit unusual patterns of sensation and attention. These anomalies have been hypothesized to result from overarousal and consequent overfocused attention. Parents of individuals with ASD rated items in three domains, ‘sensory overreactivity’, ‘sensory underreactivity’ and ‘sensory seeking behaviors’, of an expanded version of the Sensory Profile, a 103-item rating scale developed for the present study. Parents also rated symptom severity, overselective attention and exceptional memory, and completed the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales. Of 222 rated subjects, 144 had complete data. Cluster analysis showed the predicted overfocused pattern of sensation and attention, comprising overreactivity, perseverative behavior and interests, overfocused attention and exceptional memory in 43 percent of this sample. This pattern was striking in 10 percent. The neurological basis of overreactivity and overfocusi...
Adults with severe dyslexia were compared with age-, sex-, IQ- and SES-matched controls on a neuropsychological and neuromotor test battery, and a contrast group who had recovered from dyslexia was also included. The severely dyslexic... more
Adults with severe dyslexia were compared with age-, sex-, IQ- and SES-matched controls on a neuropsychological and neuromotor test battery, and a contrast group who had recovered from dyslexia was also included. The severely dyslexic group was substantially impaired on tests of verbal fluency and learning, as well as on non-verbal temporal order judgements. These test scores were strong predictors of the degree of reading impairment, as was the rate of repetitive movement of the right hand and foot. The results suggest that adult dyslexia is not 'isolated', but is one expression of a widespread left-hemisphere dysfunction.
Right, mixed and left-handed college students were given the complete WAIS, and a series of cognitive factor tests. Results showed left- and mixed-handed individuals to have a significantly lower full scale I.Q. than right-handers. There... more
Right, mixed and left-handed college students were given the complete WAIS, and a series of cognitive factor tests. Results showed left- and mixed-handed individuals to have a significantly lower full scale I.Q. than right-handers. There was no difference between the mixed and left-handers. In all three handedness groups, subjects with a positive family history of sinistrality had a lower full scale I.Q. than did subjects without left-handed relatives. Neither handedness nor family history differentially affected the Verbal or Performance subscales, nor did they have a significant effect on scores in the other cognitive tests. These results are discussed with respect to Levy's theory of hemispheric specialization, and to the role of inheritance and brain damage in the causation of left- and mixed-handedness.
Letter pairs, which could be name matches, physical matches, or mismatches, were presented at fixation or 2.5 degrees left or right of fixation. During different experimental sessions, the locations and the types of matches were fixed... more
Letter pairs, which could be name matches, physical matches, or mismatches, were presented at fixation or 2.5 degrees left or right of fixation. During different experimental sessions, the locations and the types of matches were fixed (and therefore known in advance by the subject) or were randomized. Right visual field superiority in reaction time occurred for name matches only when location was randomized, and then the extent of the superiority depended on whether the types of match called for were predictable. Evoked potentials to the letter pairs during this task revealed hemispheric and neural pathway differences that were independent of expectancy condition. Right hemisphere responses were larger than left. For some components, amplitudes were smaller and latencies were shorter for direct than for indirect projection of stimuli to each cerebral hemisphere. Indirect-direct differences in P300 amplitude varied for each cerebral hemisphere according to whether a physical or name match occurred. The P130 and N170 components manifested hemispheric differences that depended on whether the two letters of a pair were in the same or different cases.
Argiles et santé. Propriétés et thérapies. Antalgique, anti-infectieuse, antimyscosique, antiphlogistique, antisérotonine, bioactivatrice, cicatrisante, désinfiltrante, hémolytique, sédative Unique en son genre, cet ouvrage contient des... more
Argiles et santé. Propriétés et thérapies. Antalgique, anti-infectieuse, antimyscosique, antiphlogistique, antisérotonine, bioactivatrice, cicatrisante, désinfiltrante, hémolytique, sédative Unique en son genre, cet ouvrage contient des bases scientifiques certifiées permettant ...
... body image." He regarded the other symptoms as secondary to dissolution of the finger schema, rather than to any disorder in extra-personal space. ... the, two point finger test) does not require a knowledge of the relative... more
... body image." He regarded the other symptoms as secondary to dissolution of the finger schema, rather than to any disorder in extra-personal space. ... the, two point finger test) does not require a knowledge of the relative positions of the fingers but merely an awareness of where ...
Hyperactive and nonhyperactive children performed a learning task in two states, while being treated with stimulant medication (methylphenidate) and while taking a placebo, and were tested for retention of each class of learned material... more
Hyperactive and nonhyperactive children performed a learning task in two states, while being treated with stimulant medication (methylphenidate) and while taking a placebo, and were tested for retention of each class of learned material in both states. Symmetrical state-dependent learning was demonstrated in the hyperactive group but not in the nonhyperactive group. The state-dependent effect was contingent on the presence of drug-induced facilitation during initial learning. This is apparently the first report on record of state-dependent learning with a drug agent that facilitates rather than impairs performance of human subjects.
January, 1988 Electrodermal Lability in Hyperactive Children 65 In the present study psychophysiological mea-sures were examined in relationship to paired as-sociate learning performance with arbitrary asso-ciates. This task was selected... more
January, 1988 Electrodermal Lability in Hyperactive Children 65 In the present study psychophysiological mea-sures were examined in relationship to paired as-sociate learning performance with arbitrary asso-ciates. This task was selected on the basis of Doug-las' (1980) analysis which ...
CONTE, RICHARD; KINSBOURNE, MARCEL; SWANSON, JAMES; ZIRK, HARRY; and SAMUELS, MARILYN. Presentation Rate Effects on Paired Associate Learning by Attention Deficit Disordered Children. CHILD DEVELOPMENT, 1986, 57, 681-687. 2 methods of... more
CONTE, RICHARD; KINSBOURNE, MARCEL; SWANSON, JAMES; ZIRK, HARRY; and SAMUELS, MARILYN. Presentation Rate Effects on Paired Associate Learning by Attention Deficit Disordered Children. CHILD DEVELOPMENT, 1986, 57, 681-687. 2 methods of varying ...
The possibility that Alzheimer's disease (AD) is caused by overexpression or duplication of one or more genes on chromosome 21 has been raised by the observation of AD-like neuropathologic changes in individuals with Down... more
The possibility that Alzheimer's disease (AD) is caused by overexpression or duplication of one or more genes on chromosome 21 has been raised by the observation of AD-like neuropathologic changes in individuals with Down syndrome and by the mapping of both the defect for familial AD and the amyloid beta protein gene to this autosome. Possible duplication on chromosome 21 was investigated in both familial and sporadic AD by means of restriction fragment length polymorphisms for the amyloid and SODI loci, as well as for DNA markers in the vicinity of the familial AD defect and in the critical Down syndrome region of chromosome 21. No evidence of increased DNA dosage was observed in either brain or leukocytes of patients with inherited or sporadic forms of AD. Duplication of these regions is therefore not a frequent event in either form of AD. Furthermore, no significant allelic association was detected between AD and any of the loci, including the amyloid and SODI genes, providing no support for the hypothesis that defects in these specific genes are the primary cause of AD.
Traditionally, the response to a trial of medica tion has been evaluated by telephone communi cation with parents,'4 who give their subjective impressions of changes in behavior, or by informa tion derived from teacher or parent... more
Traditionally, the response to a trial of medica tion has been evaluated by telephone communi cation with parents,'4 who give their subjective impressions of changes in behavior, or by informa tion derived from teacher or parent question naires (rating “¿@ which are given ...
... Marcel Kinsbourne New School for Social Research, New York Theoretical interest in defining and explaining consciousness has surged dra-matically in recent years (GIBA Foundation, 1993 ... A recent in-stance is reported by Neuman,... more
... Marcel Kinsbourne New School for Social Research, New York Theoretical interest in defining and explaining consciousness has surged dra-matically in recent years (GIBA Foundation, 1993 ... A recent in-stance is reported by Neuman, Niepel, Tappe, and Koch (in press). ...
We examined the relationship between cognitive style, empathy, and willingness to help. In Study 1 (N = 186), we measured preference for visuospatial or verbal cognitive style using the ZenQ (Zenhausern, 1978), and empathy using the... more
We examined the relationship between cognitive style, empathy, and willingness to help. In Study 1 (N = 186), we measured preference for visuospatial or verbal cognitive style using the ZenQ (Zenhausern, 1978), and empathy using the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (Davis, 1983). In Study 2 (N = 76), we experimentally elicited verbal or visual cognitive processing via priming and measured empathy in response to a vignette about a woman injured in a car accident. In both studies, we measured willingness to help by assessing participants' willingness to assist the injured woman. Results showed that visuospatial cognitive processing increased empathy and willingness to help. Empathic concern mediated the relationship between cognitive style and willingness to help. Results highlight the importance of mental imagery in increasing empathy and helping.
Research Interests:
We examined the relationship between cognitive style, empathy, and willingness to help. In Study 1 (N = 186), we measured preference for visuospatial or verbal cognitive style using the ZenQ (Zenhausern, 1978), and empathy using the... more
We examined the relationship between cognitive style, empathy, and willingness to help. In Study 1 (N = 186), we measured preference for visuospatial or verbal cognitive style using the ZenQ (Zenhausern, 1978), and empathy using the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (Davis, 1983). In Study 2 (N = 76), we experimentally elicited verbal or visual cognitive processing via priming and measured empathy in response to a vignette about a woman injured in a car accident. In both studies, we measured willingness to help by assessing participants' willingness to assist the injured woman. Results showed that visuospatial cognitive processing increased empathy and willingness to help. Empathic concern mediated the relationship between cognitive style and willingness to help. Results highlight the importance of mental imagery in increasing empathy and helping.
Research Interests:
... speech. No attempt had been made to restrict the number of males and females within each group, MANUAL MOTOR ASYMMETRY 693 although an attempt was made to test approximately equal numbers of each sex. As has ...
Abstract Three families each of which contained several members with pseudopapilledema are described. Pseudopapilledema has been photographically and angiographically demonstrated in three generations of one family and in two generations... more
Abstract Three families each of which contained several members with pseudopapilledema are described. Pseudopapilledema has been photographically and angiographically demonstrated in three generations of one family and in two generations of two other ...
ABSTRACT The position is taken in this paper that psychoanalysis can better profit from findings in neuroscience (and vice versa) through the mediation of cognitive science. It is argued that cognitive science is highly compatible with... more
ABSTRACT The position is taken in this paper that psychoanalysis can better profit from findings in neuroscience (and vice versa) through the mediation of cognitive science. It is argued that cognitive science is highly compatible with Freud’s background and thinking. This opinion stems from a reconsideration of Freud’s neuropsychological work, with particular reference to his book on aphasia.
... stimuli are presented to one ear, and noise to the other, thereby eliminating competition between meaningful stimuli and directing attention to the ... were music majors with a minimum of 7 years of instrumental training who passed a... more
... stimuli are presented to one ear, and noise to the other, thereby eliminating competition between meaningful stimuli and directing attention to the ... were music majors with a minimum of 7 years of instrumental training who passed a test of melodic and harmonic dictation. ...
Goldstein's ideas resolve the paradox of functional specialization within an integrated brain. Conceiving the human brain as a differentiated network, we show how some of his generalizations can be operationalized, and we review... more
Goldstein's ideas resolve the paradox of functional specialization within an integrated brain. Conceiving the human brain as a differentiated network, we show how some of his generalizations can be operationalized, and we review some experimental tests. The results encourage us to view cerebral symptomatology as often representing not loss but suppression of abilities by lesion-induced bias in brain organization. We discuss remedial methods that might help latent abilities reassume control over behavior.
A patient with associative visual agnosia secondary to a penetrating bitemporooccipital lesion remained able to draw complex objects from memory but could not subsequently recognize his sketches. His retained ability to copy and draw... more
A patient with associative visual agnosia secondary to a penetrating bitemporooccipital lesion remained able to draw complex objects from memory but could not subsequently recognize his sketches. His retained ability to copy and draw briefly exposed objects indicates that this is not a problem of visual perception. On tasks of categorization, mental imagery, drawing, and object decision, he demonstrates many instances of preserved visual semantic memories and imagery despite a sense of unfamiliarity with the visual stimuli. We infer a preserved ability to derive internal visual images from semantic memory. Cues may help him visualize the named object, which then serves as a model for comparison with the actual stimulus. However, his adequate visual perception and mental visual imagery, even when assisted by cues, are still insufficient to correct fully his difficulty in recognizing objects. Unique to his case is an inability to match the representation of stimulus objects with his intact internal image of the same object. Deficient lateral inhibition between neural representations of similar objects may be responsible.
This chapter presents the following arguments: (1) in adults, anomalous language lateralization per se does not entail cognitive deficit; (2) in children, there is neither neuropsychological evidence nor evidence from the ontogeny of... more
This chapter presents the following arguments: (1) in adults, anomalous language lateralization per se does not entail cognitive deficit; (2) in children, there is neither neuropsychological evidence nor evidence from the ontogeny of asymmetry in normal behavior that validates the concept of developing lateralization; and (3) certain asymmetries in newborn behavior can plausibly be regarded as precursors of cerebral dominance and as indicators of its very early reign in ontogeny. The development of cerebral dominance has attracted both academic and clinical attention. The chapter presents two sets of data that have been propagandized as evidence for cerebral dominance as a developing characteristic of cerebral organization. One is neuropsychological and the other derives from perceptual asymmetries. Subsequently, the concept of varying degrees of lateralization of language, viewed ontogenetically, is based on hopelessly inadequate evidence and is vague at best. Furthermore, the lateral disposition of language skills is preprogrammed by means of a species-specific differential activation of the relevant part of the brain in verbal context. This is the brain basis for the process of adopting a verbal mental set.

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"Franz G. Riffert & Michel Weber (eds.), Searching for New Contrasts. Whiteheadian Contributions to Contemporary Challenges in Neurophysiology, Psychology, Psychotherapy and the Philosophy of Mind, Frankfurt am Main, Peter Lang, Whitehead... more
"Franz G. Riffert & Michel Weber (eds.), Searching for New Contrasts. Whiteheadian Contributions to Contemporary Challenges in Neurophysiology, Psychology, Psychotherapy and the Philosophy of Mind, Frankfurt am Main, Peter Lang, Whitehead Psychology Nexus Studies I, 2003. (444 p. ; ISBN 3-631-39089-0 ; 68,5 €)
Whitehead claimed that “to sustain a civilization with the intensity of its first ardour requires more than learning. Adventure is essential, namely, the search for new perfections” (Adventures of Ideas, 258). Since humility is—more than ever—urgently needed in scholarship, we have chosen to qualify our conceptual adventure as a search for new contrasts, thus invoking an essential Whiteheadian concept. As the reader will have already understood, contrast does not mean here contention, or strife, or even comparison between fields that are essentially foreign to each other; it means emphasizing the complementariness of differences and the promotion of synergies.
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Foreword, Franz G. Riffert and Michel Weber
List of Contributors
Introduction. Reconnecting Science and Metaphysics: General Considerations and Pioneer Works on Process-Psychology, Franz G. Riffert and John B. Cobb, Jr.
Part I. Neurophysiology
Value in Mind and Nature, Jason W. Brown
Consciousness, Whitehead and Quantum Computation in the Brain: Panprotopsychism Meets the Physics of Fundamental Space-Time Geometry, Stuart Hameroff
Consciousness: The Brain’s Private Psychological Field, Marcel Kinsbourne
The Common Origin of Perception and Action: A Process Perspective, Avraham Schweiger
Part II. Psychology
Whitehead's Faculty-Psychology, Jean-Claude Dumoncel
Psychology Moves Towards Whitehead, John Pickering
On Scientific Confirmation of Causal Efficacy, Franz G. Riffert
What is Called “Feeling”?—Lure and Certainty in Whitehead and Descartes, Pierre Rodrigo
The One and the Many. Reflections on Whitehead’s notion of Personal Identity, Luca Vanzago
Part III. Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy in Process, John B. Cobb, Jr.
The Promise of Process Psychology, David E. Roy
The Universality of Impermanence, C. R. F. Sherlock
The Art of Epochal Change, Michel Weber
Part IV. Philosophy of Mind
A Psychology for the Ecosystem, Liliana Albertazzi
Mind as Process, Mark H. Bickhard
Direct Realism in Perception and Memory, Peter Farleigh
Untangling “Self,” “Person,” and “I”, David Galin
Whitehead and the Revival (?) of Panpsychism, William Seager
Psychology and Physics Reconciled: Whitehead’s Vision of Metaphysics, Anderson Weekes
Critical Apparatus
General Bibliography
Index of Subjects
Index of Names
Detailed Table of Contents
Research Interests: