EEG Correlates of Trait and Mathematical Anxiety during Lexical and Numerical Error-Recognition Tasks.

EEG correlates of mathematical and trait anxiety level were studied in 52 healthy Russian-speakers during execution of error-recognition tasks with lexical, arithmetic and algebraic conditions. Event-related spectral perturbations were used as a measure of brain activity. The ERSP plots revealed alpha/beta desynchronizations within a 500-3000 ms interval after task onset and slow-wave synchronization within an interval of 150-350 ms. Amplitudes of these intervals reflected the accuracy of error recognition, and were differently associated with the three conditions. The correlates of anxiety were found in theta (4-8 Hz) and beta2 (16-20 Hz) frequency bands. In theta band the effects of mathematical anxiety were stronger expressed inlexical, than in arithmetic and algebraic condition. The mathematicalanxiety effects in theta band were associated with differences between anterior and posterior cortical areas, whereas the effects of trait anxiety were associated with inter-hemispherical differences. In beta1 and beta2 bands effects of trait and mathematical anxiety were directed oppositely. The trait anxiety was associated with increase of amplitude of desynchronization, whereas the mathematical anxiety was associated with decrease of this amplitude. The effect of mathematical anxiety in beta2 band was insignificant for lexical condition but was the strongest in algebraic condition. EEG correlates of anxiety in theta band could be interpreted as indexes of task emotionality, whereas the reaction in beta2 band is related to tension of intellectual resources

Modern approaches in the study of spatial abilities: a structure and etiology of individual differences

ПРОСТРАНСТВЕННЫЕ СПОСОБНОСТИ: СТРУКТУРА И ЭТИОЛОГИЯ (In Russian) The paper reviews results of the studies that were aimed to investigate spatial abilities as well as gender and cross-cultural differences in spatial abilities. Biological, social and personal factors contributing to the development of these abilities are analyzed. Fundamental approaches towards understanding of spatial abilities structure are reviewed, the data supporting the hypothesis of a unitary and multicomponent structure are analyzed. In addition, a separation of spatial abilities into small and large scales is presented. The authors analyze the nature of gender differences in spatial abilities, specifically evolutionary and hormonal hypotheses, as well as effects of gender stereotypes and selfesteem. The extent of gender differences in spatial tasks performance may be related to age. However, how strongly gender differences are expressed in each of the aspects of spatial abilities remains unclear. Some researchers suggest that differences in spatial abilities may also be due to socio-economic status and motivation. It was shown that involvement in activities that are strongly related to spatial thinking may contribute to performance in spatial tests. One of the important aspect of analysis in this paper is the etiology of individual differences in spatial abilities. Several studies have shown that these differences are mainly due to the geneenvironment interaction. Extensive twin studies demonstrate the prevailing contribution of hereditary factors in spatial abilities development. One research area of individual differences in spatial abilities is genetic polymorphism studies. This paper also reviews studies of spatial abilities from the cross-cultural prospective. Studies conducted in different cultural environments support the universal nature of individual differences in spatial abilities. However, despite the extensive knowledge of spatial abilities, our analysis underlines the demand for interdisciplinary approach, involving genetically informative studies of various aspects of spatial abilities, as well as cross-cultural and longitudinal studies in stratified samples

The structure of interstitial lung diseases in children of the first two years of life

For the first time in Russia, the article provides data on interstitial lung diseases structure in children of the first two years of life, based on a series of observations of 68 patients with these rare diseases, as a part of multi-center ambispective study. Interstitial lung diseases in observed children included: Wilson-Mikity syndrome (23,4%), neuroendocrine hyperplasia of infancy (22%), bronchiolitis obliterans with organizing pneumonia (7,4%), primary pulmonary hypoplasia (1,5%), secondary pulmonary hypoplasia with Jeune syndrome (10,3%), secondary pulmonary hypoplasia with Edwards syndrome (2,9%), secondary pulmonary hypoplasia with other associated pathology (omphalocele - 1,5%, non-immune fetal hydrops - 1,5%), subpleural cysts in patients with Down syndrome (5,9%), congenital deficiency of surfactant protein B (1,5%), brain-lung- thyroid syndrome (2,9%), congenital alveolar-capillary dysplasia (1,5%), interstitial lung diseases with systemic diseases (Langerhans cell histiocytosis - 16,2%, Niemann-Pick disease - 1,5%). The article summarizes clinical features, the results of image diagnosis and disease outcomes. © 2015, Pediatria Ltd. All rights reserved

The structure of interstitial lung diseases in children of the first two years of life

For the first time in Russia, the article provides data on interstitial lung diseases structure in children of the first two years of life, based on a series of observations of 68 patients with these rare diseases, as a part of multi-center ambispective study. Interstitial lung diseases in observed children included: Wilson-Mikity syndrome (23,4%), neuroendocrine hyperplasia of infancy (22%), bronchiolitis obliterans with organizing pneumonia (7,4%), primary pulmonary hypoplasia (1,5%), secondary pulmonary hypoplasia with Jeune syndrome (10,3%), secondary pulmonary hypoplasia with Edwards syndrome (2,9%), secondary pulmonary hypoplasia with other associated pathology (omphalocele - 1,5%, non-immune fetal hydrops - 1,5%), subpleural cysts in patients with Down syndrome (5,9%), congenital deficiency of surfactant protein B (1,5%), brain-lung- thyroid syndrome (2,9%), congenital alveolar-capillary dysplasia (1,5%), interstitial lung diseases with systemic diseases (Langerhans cell histiocytosis - 16,2%, Niemann-Pick disease - 1,5%). The article summarizes clinical features, the results of image diagnosis and disease outcomes. © 2015, Pediatria Ltd. All rights reserved