Abstract

TUNES, Elizabeth; FLORES, Eileen Pfeiffer; SILVA, Elzamir Gonzaga  and  SOUZA, Carlos Barbosa Alves de. Ciênc. cogn. [online]. 2007, vol.10, pp. 156-163. ISSN 1806-5821.

Abstract The alterations in the central nervous system of people with Down syndrome have been pointed at as the cause of the intellectual delay observed in this syndrome. Nevertheless, the logic that underlies the studies trying to establish this relation presents at least three weak aspects: 1) the use of IQ as a measurement of intellectual capacity; 2) the interpretation of correlation as causal relations, and 3) the reification of the notion of cognitive functioning. Because of this, we suggested the necessity of redirecting research toward the analysis of the configuration of social environments of developmentally delayed people. Taking Vygotsky's socio-historical theory as a foundation we tried to formulate some hypotheses on the configuration of these environments and their relation with the development of the higher psychological functions. © Ciências & Cognição 2007; Vol. 10: 156-163.

Keywords : Down syndrome; intellectual deficit; higher psychological functions; social environment of the development; Vygotsky.

        · abstract in Portuguese     · text in Portuguese     · Portuguese ( pdf )