Cognitive Strengths and Weaknesses in Down syndrome

描述（由申请人提供）：对于唐氏综合征（最常见的遗传性精神发育迟滞综合征）患者，研究集中在由言语工作记忆差和相对较强的视觉空间处理组成的认知特征上。 这项研究的意义指向唐氏综合症儿童的教育方式的变化。 然而，这一信息仍然相对不足的从业者，可能是因为视觉空间处理的相对强度仍然知之甚少。 在本申请中，研究者建议：在具体目标1中，描述唐氏综合征视觉空间相对强度内的优势和劣势;在具体目标2中，探索视觉空间处理内的域和其他处理域（即，言语工作记忆、听觉处理、表达性词汇、阅读/解码、逻辑）的表现之间的关系。 在随后的研究工作中，研究者还计划通过视觉空间处理的相对强度来确定改善唐氏综合征（如语言习得）的神经依赖性结局的策略。

DESCRIPTION (Provided by Applicant): For individuals with Down syndrome, the most common genetic mental retardation syndrome, research is converging on a cognitive profile consisting of poor verbal working memory and relatively stronger visuo-spatial processing. The implications of this research point to changes in the way children with Down syndrome are taught. Yet this information has remained relatively under-utilized by practitioners, possibly because the visuo-spatial processing relative strength remains poorly understood. In this application, the investigator proposes to: in Specific Aim 1, describe the strengths and weaknesses within the visuo-spatial relative strength in Down syndrome; and in Specific Aim 2, explore the relationship between performance on domains within visuo-spatial processing and other domains of processing (i.e. verbal working memory, auditory processing, expressive vocabulary, reading/decoding, logic). In subsequent research endeavors, the investigator also plans to identify strategies for improving auditory-dependent outcomes in Down syndrome (such as language acquisition) through the relative strength in visuo-spatial processing.