This experiment studied the effect of extraneous auditory stimulation on the performance of familial and brain-injured retardates. Brain-injured retardates were matched with familial retardates for chronological age, IQ, race, and sex. The results were discussed in reference to: (1) the value of the dichotomus medical diagnosis of brain-injured versus familial retardates for prediction of performance; (2) the hypothesis that the so-called distractibility is an attempt by the brain-injured to sustain his “normal” level of stimulation; and (3) the advisability of using an enriched environment in teaching the brain-injured retardate.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
BenoitE. P.Relevance of Hebb's theory of the organization of behavior to educational research in the mentally retarded. American Journal of Mental Deficiency, 1957, 61, 497–507.
2.
BensbergG. J. (Ed.) Teaching the mentally retarded: A handbook for ward personnel. Atlanta, Ga.: Southern Regional Education Board, 1965.
3.
BirchH. G.Brain damage in children: The biological and social aspects. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins, 1964.
4.
BrownR. I.The effects of extraneous auditory stimulation on learning and performance. American Journal of Mental Deficiency, 1966, 71, 283–290.
5.
CromwellR. L.FosheeJ. G.Studies in activity level: IV. Effects of visual stimulation during task performance in mental defectives. American Journal of Mental Deficiency, 1960, 65, 248–251.
6.
EllisN. R. (Ed.) Handbook of mental deficiency: Psychological theory and research. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1963.
7.
FiskeD. W.MaddiS. R.Functions of varied experience. Homewood, Ill.: Dorsey, 1961.
8.
FosheeJ. G.Studies in activity level: I. Simple and complex task performance in defectives. American Journal of Mental Deficiency, 1958, 62, 882–885.
9.
GardnerW. I.CromwellR. L.FosheeJ. G.Studies in activity level: II. Effects of distal visual stimulation in organics, familials, hyperactives, and hypoactives. American Journal of Mental Deficiency, 1959, 63, 1028–1033.
10.
GirardeauF. L.EllisN. R.Rote verbal learning by normal and mentally retarded children. American Journal of Mental Deficiency, 1964, 68, 525–532.
11.
KirkS. A.Early education of the mentally retarded: An experimental study. Urbana, Ill.: Univer. of Illinois Press, 1958.
12.
LauferM. W.DenhoffE.Hyperkinetic behavior syndrome in children. Journal of Pediatrics, 1957, 50, 463–474.
13.
RobinsonH. B.RobinsonN. M.The mentally retarded child: A psychological approach. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1965.
14.
SkeelsH. M.DyeH. B.A study of the effects of differential stimulation on mentally retarded children. Journal of Psycho-Asthenics, 1939, 44, 114–136.
15.
SpradlinJ. E.CromwellR. L.FosheeJ. G.Studies in familials, hyperactives, and hypoactives. American Journal of Mental Deficiency, 1960, 64, 754–757.
16.
StraussA. A.The education of the brain-injured child. American Journal of Mental Deficiency, 1952, 56, 712–718.
17.
StraussA. A.LehtinenL. E.Psychopathology and education of the brain-injured child. New York: Grune & Stratton, 1947.
