The present study examined longitudinally the relationship between
institutionalization and (a) functions mediated by the central nervous system and
(b) behavioral observations of general institutional functioning. Subjects were
residents of a nursing home and were the survivors of a longitudinal study. There
were five assessments over a two year period. Behavioral rating scales and
psychometric performance tests were employed. It was hypothesized that the effects
of the intervening months of institutionalization changes occurring between the
baseline and post evaluations would have detrimental effects on the parameters
investigated. The composite findings, however, did not substantiate this. Rather,
the consequences of the intervening months of institutional life reflected stability
or variability in the context of general institutional functioning and in the
processes mediated by the central nervous system, such as speed of response and
information processing.
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