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| Int'l Symposium - Behavioral Phentoypes and Applied Behaviour Analysis (or ABA Meets ATAGACGATACGAT) |
| Monday, May 31, 2004 |
| 9:00 AM–10:20 AM |
| Constitution A |
| Area: DDA/TPC; Domain: Applied Research |
| Chair: Christopher Oliver (University Of Birmingham) |
| Discussant: Bob Remington (University of Southampton) |
| Abstract: . |
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| Functional Analyses of Stereotypic Hand Movements Among Individuals with Rett Syndrome |
| CLAIRE LACEY (National University of Ireland, Maynooth), Nicole E.M.C Murray (National University of Ireland, Dublin) |
| Abstract: Researchers have made remarkable advances in uncovering the behavioural characteristics of individuals with certain genetic conditions associated with intellectual disability. One of the dominant characteristics identified among individuals with Rett syndrome, a congenital neurological condition, includes stereotypic hand movements such as hand mouthing, hand biting and hand wringing. We conducted a functional analyses to examine the variables maintaining stereotypic hand movements among individuals with Rett syndrome. The values of using functional analyses to further our understanding of the variables maintaining behaviours associated with specific genetic conditions are discussed. |
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| The Influence of Environmental Events on Laughing and Smiling in Angelman Syndrome |
| CHRISTOPHER OLIVER (University Of Birmingham), Kate Horsler (University Of Birmingham), Katie Dick (University Of Birmingham), Gail Bellamy (University Of Birmingham), Emily Griffiths (University Of Birmingham) |
| Abstract: Within the field of behavioural phenotype research genetic determinism is prominent. An example of this is the assumption that the high levels of laughing and smiling seen in Angelman syndrome are the result of random neurological events. In this study we observed the behaviour of ten children with Angelman syndrome and their interactions with others. The results of lag sequential analyses demonstrate a strong association between social antecedents and the laughing and smiling of children with Angelman syndrome and that the laughing and smiling has a subsequent influence on the behaviour of others. The results are discussed with reference to the interplay between environmental and genetic influences on the behaviour of children and adults with genetically determined syndromes and the importance of applied behaviour analysis in behavioural phenotype research. |
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| Effects of Social Antecedents on Behavior Problems in Children with Fragile X Syndrome |
| SCOTT S. HALL (Stanford University) |
| Abstract: Few studies have examined the impact of immediate social-environmental variables (e.g., social demands) on the occurrence of behavior problems in children with fragile X syndrome. In this study, 74 boys and 40 girls aged between 6 and 17 years with fragile X syndrome were exposed to a 15-20 minute videotaped "social challenge" task that was administered in the children’s homes. The task consisted of shaking hands with the experimenter, answering a series of questions, reading aloud, and singing three popular songs. Throughout the task, the children were asked to maintain eye contact with the experimenter. Data were collected from videotape using a real-time data capture system. Results showed that social demands evoked a wide range of behavior problems including hyperactivity, hand-biting, eye-rubbing and hiding from the experimenter. These behaviors were most likely to occur when the children were asked to perform the popular song and were more frequent in boys. The results suggest that repeated exposure to social interaction without the opportunity to escape (i.e., escape extinction), combined with relaxation techniques, could be an effective intervention to help reduce behavior problems shown by individuals with fragile X syndrome. |
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