Processing deficits in Turner's syndrome

Exp I compared 31 female 11-28 yr old Turner syndrome (TS) Ss and 31 matched controls on a mental rotation task. Although both groups utilized the some rotation strategy, TS Ss were less accurate and slower than controls in the rotational component of the task. Exp II compared 23 TS Ss and 23 matched controls (mean age 15.4 yrs) on a sentence verification task. No differences were observed between the groups in accuracy, strategy, or processing rates, although RTs of the TS group were significantly longer. Exp III studied a set of 12.5-yr-old dizygotic twins, one of whom had TS. Results replicate the findings of Exps I and II. Also discussed are the specific processing deficits in TS and the role of biological factors that may contribute to them. (67 ref)