Author links open overlay panelMaurizioCorbettaabcdefPersonEnvelopeJoshua S.SiegelaGordon L.Shulmana
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Abstract
Traditional neuropsychological approaches emphasize the specificity of behavioral deficits and the modular organization of the brain. At the population level, however, there is emerging evidence that deficits are correlated resulting in a low dimensional structure of post-stroke neurological impairments. Here we consider the implications of low dimensionality for the three-way mapping between structural damage, altered physiology, and behavioral deficits. Understanding this mapping will be aided by large-sample studies that apply multivariate models and focus on explained percentage of variance, as opposed to univariate lesion-symptom techniques that report statistical significance. The low dimensionality of behavioral deficits following stroke is paralleled by widespread, yet relatively consistent, changes in functional connectivity (FC), including a reduction in modularity. Both are related to the structural damage to white matter and subcortical grey commonly produced by stroke. We suggest that large-scale physiological abnormalities following a stroke reduce the variety of neural states visited during task processing and at rest, resulting in a limited repertoire of behavioral states.
Given their empathy and communication deficits, children with autism experience the social work to be unpredictable and frightening. They find social interactions to be unnatural and quite stressful. Rather than embracing relationships, most children with autism try to avoid them, choosing rather to take refuge and comfort in their own isolated worlds. They do not reciprocate play and they do not engage in normal play activities without prompting. They also avoid meeting other people's gaze, and tend instead to fixate their eyes away from people, on to inanimate objects or parts of objects.
When higher functioning children with autism do choose to be social, their deficits in social understanding and empathy prevent them from smoothly engaging with others. For example, a high functioning child with autism may know he is supposed to use words to initiate a conversation with other children, but not know quite how to use them appropriately. Correspondingly, he may walk up to a group of children and attempt to initiate a conversation by echoing an out-of-context phrase he heard previously such as, "It was a dark and stormy night" rather than by making eye contact and saying hello. Though well intentioned, such odd behavior is, of course, quite baffling to children who don't already understand about autism.
Behavioral Deficits. In addition, children with autism may exhibit odd emotional behavior that is not easily understood by others. children with autism's social fears can manifest as compulsive behaviors and/or aggression. Many require order and routine to be maintained as they transition from one activity to another. They may endlessly repeat certain ordering behaviors that serve a self-soothing function. Changes to routine can easily frighten them, resulting in tantrums and aggression. Aggression is not always directed outward, but instead may result in self-injurious behaviors.
n. condition in which there is impairment in physical and mental functioning such that age-specific aspects of behavior are lacking in an individual. Since growth and development are not on target, there could be developmental delays in behavior as well. Also called behavior deficit.
BEHAVIORAL DEFICIT: "Behavioral deficit is observed in children with autism."
Related Psychology Terms
- Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development
- CHILD PSYCHIATRY
- ADOLESCENCE (Theories)
- MENTAL RETARDATION (PREVENTION, CARE, AND TREATMENT)
- CHILD PSYCHOLOGY
- EARLY INFANTILE AUTISM
- A Comparison of Maternal and Paternal Filicide
- CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT
- CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY
- FAMILY CARE
Cite this page: N., Sam M.S., "BEHAVIORAL DEFICIT," in PsychologyDictionary.org, April 7, 2013, //psychologydictionary.org/behavioral-deficit/ (accessed January 2, 2023).
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