Neuropsychological evaluation of a population of illiterate women

Author(s): Oseguera, R. I., Cruz, R. Z., Cue, N. S.

Journal/Book: Salud Ment. 1995; 18: Calz Mexico-Xochimilco #101, Mexico City 22 DF, Mexico. Inst Mex Psiquiatria. 34-39.

Abstract: Fifty nine normal women were selected. They were divided in to two groups: Group 1, was integrated by 29 subjects of low socio-cultural level with an average age of 27.88 and 7 years of formal education. Group 2 was integrated by 30 illiterate subjects of low socio-cultural level with an average age of 43.4, from rural zones and from the city of Puebla. The neuropsychological scheme of Ardila-Ostrosky-Canseco (2) was applied. The scheme explores 9 different areas, but in this study only the first 6 were used: motor functions, somatosensory knowledge, spatial and visuospatial recognition, auditory knowledge and language, cognitive processes and oral language. The results showed that the illiterate group presented more errors in all the areas evaluated but such differences were more significant in the first 4 sections. When comparing by age the subjects of the illiterate group, no significant differences were found, which shows that the differences between the two groups are not due to such variety. When comparing the results of each of the items between the illitarate and literate groups, we found that the first group obtained the worst results in the following items. a) motor functions: reproduction of hand positions, sequential drawings and reaction choice; b) spatial and visuospatial recognition: recognition of drawings and drawing of a cube; c) oral language: completion of sentences, subordinate clauses, prosodial interpretation and comprehension of narrative speech. In general, a gradual deterioration was observed: the lower their socio-cultural and educational level was, the worse the grade of fulfilment of the items resulted. The results are discussed considering the socio-cultural and educational levels, life conditions and sex differences. The possible influence of all these factors on the structural and functional organization of the nervous, system and on the organization of superior psychological functions is suggested.

Note: Article LQ Rojas, Benemerita Univ Autonoma Puebla, Fac Psicol, 3 Oriente 403, Ctr Hist 72000, Puebla, Mexico

Keyword(s): BRAIN-DAMAGE; LEVEL

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