This study found that by ten months, infants were able to reliably discriminate eight from 12 elements (2:3) but not eight from ten elements (4:5). Thus, number discrimination improves in precision in the first year.
Xu, F and Arriaga, R. British Journal of Developmental Psychology 25 (1): 103-108. March 2007. Abstract: http://www.bps.org.uk
Cultural competence in health visiting practice: a baseline survey Results from a survey of all health visitors working within a West Midlands primary care trust that serves minority ethnic communities. showed that half of the respondents were themselves a member of a minority ethnic community.
Respondents said they were a significantly less able to meet the needs of minority ethnic communities than of the white population, and identified factors that promote and barriers that hamper the use of health visiting services by minority ethnic communities.
Jackson, A. Community Practitioner 80(2): 17-22, Feb 2007. Abstract: http://www.commprac.com
Mapping autism risk loci using genetic linkage and chromosomal rearrangements An international collaboration of 120 scientists studied 1,200 families with two or more people with autism. The findings showed two new mutations, believed to raise a child's risk of the disorder. One was a defect in Neurexin 1 which works with a brain messenger chemical to enable neighbouring neurons to communicate. The other was an unknown gene on Chromosome 11. This study confirms existing research that suggests that autism is largely a genetic condition.
The Autism Genome Project Consortium. Nature Genetics 39(3): 319-328, March 2007. Abstract: www.nature.com/nature/index.html
Negative emotionality, attachment quality, and behaviour problems in early childhood In this German study of 64 healthy first-born children and their primary caregivers, negative emotionality was assessed at ages of four, eight and 12 months. Attachment security and attachment disorganisation were significantly associated with subsequent behaviour problems. There was no significant relation between infant negative emotionality and behaviour problems.
Pauli-Pott, U et al. Infant Mental Health Journal 28(1): 39-53, Jan 2007.
Abstract: www3.interscience.wiley.com
However, there were indications of a stronger association between attachment disorganisation and behaviour problems in infants high in negative emotionality.
