Role of cortisol in social and memory impairments in individuals with velocardiofacial syndrome (VCFS)

<p>Velocardiofacial Syndrome (VCFS) is a genetic disorder characterized by numerous physiological and psychological symptoms. Little is known regarding the neuropsychological and hormonal substrates and the social functioning in individuals with VCFS. There is some evidence to suggest that the stress hormone cortisol contributes to social, cognitive, and communication deficits in related populations (Corbett, Schupp, Levine, & Mendoza, 2009). This study investigated the role that cortisol has on the social and cognitive impairments observed in children with VCFS. To this end, 11 children with confirmed VCFS were assessed for baseline cortisol levels and received neuropsychological testing that assessed attention, memory, language, and social functioning. These results were compared with the results from 11 controls that were matched according to age and sex. It was hypothesized that children with VCFS would have significantly higher baseline cortisol levels relative to control children. Additionally, these cortisol levels would be negatively correlated with measures of social functioning as measured by CBCL, ABAS-II, and RCMAS-2. Furthermore, it was hypothesized that cortisol levels would be negatively correlated with performance on cognitive tests. Specifically, it was hypothesized that cortisol levels in children with VCFS would be negatively correlated with tests of attention and memory as measured by the WRAML-2. Children with VCFS had significantly higher cortisol levels than control counterparts; F(1, 20) = 5.436, p < .05. Cortisol levels in VCFS were not related to measures of social functioning or measures of cognitive functioning. That said, a significant negative correlation was observed between the General Memory and Attention/Concentration indices of the WRAML-2 and cortisol concentrations in the control population: r(11) = -.78, p</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Level thesis:degree_level

Open Access Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology

Year dc:date.available

2011

Author dc:creator

• Jacobson, Daniel

Contributors dc:contributor

• Renee Lajiness-O'Neill, PhD, Chair
• Alissa Huth-Bocks, PhD
• Dean Lauterbach, PhD

• VCFS
• Neuropsychology
• Social Cognition
• Cortisol
• Stress
• Clinical Psychology

Repository record dc:identifier

https://commons.emich.edu/theses/338

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:commons.emich.edu:theses-1338