Children's emergent relations of equivalence using stimuli with opposite verbal labels: Exclusion and minimal training conditions.

The present study examined different conditions under which exclusion responding in conditional discrimination tasks would generate emergent equivalence relations in young children based on shared relationships with verbal labels. Both visual stimuli (Sets A, B, C, and D) and auditory stimuli (spoken words, Set N: N1 "correct"; N2: "incorrect") were used. Following a pilot study, three experiments were conducted, each involving eight preschool children.

Early infant neuromotor assessment is associated with language and nonverbal cognitive function in toddlers: the Generation R Study.

Objective: Numerous studies in high-risk populations established that variations in infant neuromotor development predict poor cognitive function. It is unclear whether this association is found in the general population. Moreover, previous population-based studies mostly focused on motor milestone achievement.

Diurnal cortisol rhythm and cognitive functioning in toddlers: the Generation R Study.

Little is known about the relationship between diurnal cortisol secretion patterns and cognitive function early in life. This population-based study examined whether diurnal cortisol rhythms and cognitive functioning in toddlers are related. Within the Generation R Study, parents of 364 infants (median age: 14.

Febrile seizures and behavioural and cognitive outcomes in preschool children: the Generation R study.

Aim: General developmental outcome is known to be good in school-aged children who experienced febrile seizures. We examined cognitive and behavioural outcomes in preschool children with febrile seizures, including language and executive functioning outcomes.

Method: This work was performed in the Generation R Study, a population-based cohort study in Rotterdam from early fetal life onwards.

Infant brain structures, executive function, and attention deficit/hyperactivity problems at preschool age. A prospective study.

Background: Neuroimaging findings have provided evidence for a relation between variations in brain structures and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, longitudinal neuroimaging studies are typically confined to children who have already been diagnosed with ADHD. In a population-based study, we aimed to characterize the prospective association between brain structures measured during infancy and executive function and attention deficit/hyperactivity problems assessed at preschool age.

Early vocabulary delay and behavioral/emotional problems in early childhood: the generation R study.

Purpose: The authors tested associations between (a) parent-reported temporary vs. persistent vocabulary delay and (b) parent-reported behavioral/emotional problems in a sample of 5,497 young Dutch children participating in a prospective population-based study.

Method: Mothers completed the MacArthur Communicative Development Inventory-Netherlands (Zink & Lejaegere, 2003) at age 18 months and the Language Development Survey (Rescorla, 1989) at age 30 months, with expressive vocabulary delay defined as scores in the lowest 15th age- and gender-specific percentiles.

Post-term birth and the risk of behavioural and emotional problems in early childhood.

Background: Post-term birth, defined as birth after pregnancy duration of 42 weeks, is associated with increased neonatal morbidity and mortality. The long-term consequences of post-term birth are unknown. We assessed the association of post-term birth with problem behaviour in early childhood.

Examining continuity of early expressive vocabulary development: the generation R study.

Purpose: The authors investigated continuity and discontinuity of vocabulary skills in a population-based cohort in the Netherlands.

Method: Mothers of 3,759 children completed the Dutch version of the MacArthur Short Form Vocabulary Checklist (Zink & Lejaegere, 2003) at 18 months and a Dutch translation of the Language Development Survey (Rescorla, 1989) at 30 months. At both ages, expressive vocabulary delay was defined as vocabulary scores <10th age- and gender-specific percentile.

Maternal thyroid function during early pregnancy and cognitive functioning in early childhood: the generation R study.

Context: Thyroid hormones are essential for neurodevelopment from early pregnancy onward. Yet population-based data on the association between maternal thyroid function in early pregnancy and children's cognitive development are sparse.

Objective: Our objective was to study associations of maternal hypothyroxinemia and of early pregnancy maternal TSH and free T(4)(FT(4)) levels across the entire range with cognitive functioning in early childhood.

Fetal growth from mid- to late pregnancy is associated with infant development: the Generation R Study.

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate within a population-based cohort of 4384 infants (2182 males, 2202 females) whether fetal growth from early pregnancy onwards is related to infant development and whether this potential relationship is independent of postnatal growth.

Method: Ultrasound measurements were performed in early, mid-, and late pregnancy. Estimated fetal weight was calculated using head and abdominal circumference and femur length.

Fetal size in mid- and late pregnancy is related to infant alertness: the generation R study.

The vulnerability for behavioral problems is partly shaped in fetal life. Numerous studies have related indicators of intrauterine growth, for example, birth weight and body size, to behavioral development. We investigated whether fetal size in mid- and late pregnancy is related to infant irritability and alertness.