Thorn, Tania; (2002) The impact of developmental instability and rate of maturation on neuropsychological measures: A comparison of adults with and without adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Doctoral thesis (D.Clin.Psy), UCL (University College London).

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Abstract

This study examined the impact of developmental instability and age of maturation on language lateralisation and cognitive ability in participants with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) and controls. Two studies have found evidence of anomalous language lateralisation in women with AIS, one finding an increase in lateralisation and the other a decrease. This study attempted to clarify these disparate findings, examine the theoretical basis for such results and the impact of relevant variables upon cognitive ability. There are several possible reasons why one might anticipate such differences in lateralisation in people with AIS. It has been suggested that an increase in language lateralisation might occur because of increases in directional asymmetry in AIS, research having demonstrated increases of both directional and fluctuating asymmetry in AIS. Increased fluctuating asymmetry in the general population has in itself been linked to decreased intelligence and anomalous lateralisation of language. Anomalous lateralisation of language has also been associated with anomalous age of maturation and delayed or premature maturation has in turn been associated with AIS. The participants were 74 adult women, half with AIS and half without the condition. Developmental instability was assessed using palmar interdigital ridge counts, age of maturation was obtained through self report of age of menarche, language lateralisation was assessed using the Fused Word Dichotic Task and cognitive abilities were assessed with the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence. Results suggested few differences between people with scoliosis and controls; the only differences being increased directional asymmetry on the interdigital area a_b, increased total ridge count (a possible indicator of delayed in utero maturation) and increased scores on WASI performance tasks relative to verbal ones. Results for the group as a whole suggested that fluctuating asymmetry was associated with increased developmental instability and that later age of maturation was associated with increased performance skills. These findings are considered in the light of the current literature and the implications for clinical practice are discussed.

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