Archival data from a survey of parent observations was used to determine the prevalence of social and behavioral problems in children with agenesis of the corpus callosum (ACC). Parent observations were surveyed using the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) for 61 children with ACC who were selected from the archive based on criteria of motor development suggesting a relatively high general level of functioning. Younger children with ACC (ages 2-5) were rated as primarily having problems with sleep. Older children with ACC (ages 6-11) manifested problems in attention, social function, thought, and somatic complaints. The older children with ACC were also compared to CBCL data from 52 children with autism who were selected from a previous study. Children with ACC were generally less impaired than children with autism on nearly all scales, with significantly less severe problems in the areas of attention, anxiety/depression, social function, and unusual thoughts. A further questionnaire related to diagnostic criteria for autism indicated that some children with ACC had traits that are among those that contribute to the diagnosis of autism within the domains of social interaction and social communication, but fewer who manifest repetitive and restricted behaviors.

Although topics of prayer, forgiveness, and gratitude have received attention in the psychology of religion, there is sparse literature regarding the concept of grace. Thirty interviews were conducted with Friends (Quakers) in the Pacific Northwest, using a semi-structured interview developed for a larger study of how Christians from various denominations experience grace. Four organizing themes were derived from the interview questions and then grounded theory was used to uncover associated subthemes within each organizing theme. Participants emphasized the loving nature of God and how grace is a transforming relational experience with God that helps people move toward wholeness and completeness. Although participants sometimes linked grace with questions of eternal destiny, it was also associated with being fully accepted and loved by God in the present moment. Many expressed concerns about conservative Christian perspectives of grace that seem to overly focus on being saved from hell, instead preferring views of grace that are inclusive and available to all. Ongoing disciplines of grace included being in nature, community relationships, creative expressions, prayer, quiet, and reading sacred texts. These findings are consistent with historical and contemporary distinctives of Friends. Implications for future research are considered.

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Objective Corpus callosum agenesis (ACC) is a congenital birth defect in which the corpus callosum fails to fully form (Badaruddin, et al., 2007). The partial or complete absence of a corpus callosum affects specific functioning (Brown, Jeeves, Dietrich, & Burnison, 1999) resulting in behavioral, social, and cognitive difficulties (Badaruddin, et al., 2007). We evaluated the development of infants and toddlers with ACC in cognition, language, and motor functioning. Methods Boys (n = 6) and girls (n = 4) ages 3 to 41 months were assessed utilizing the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development-Third Edition, a test designed to assess the developmental functioning in 5 domains: motor, social-emotional, adaptive behavior, cognitive, and language (Bayley, 2006). Volunteers were assessed during ACC conferences. Results Cognitive, language and motor index scores were significantly correlated but not age. Moderate to large effect sizes (Cohens d) were found. Girls had lower Cognitive Index scores and were below average; boys mean score was within the average range. Large effect sizes for receptive and expressive language. Boys scored within the low average range; girls below average for receptive language. For expressive language, girls fell in the borderline range, boys were low average. Gross motor was very low compared to age norms. Girls showed deficits in fine motor skill development; boys within the average range. Conclusions Global developmental deficits and gender differences occurred for infants and toddlers with ACC. Girls show more delays than boys. Outcomes suggest that delays can be measured well before entering school and supports early intervention services.

The field of neuroscience and religion continues to explode as researchers seek to understand religious experiences in the brain. Studies in religious experience, called neurotheology, attempt to draw conclusions about the truth of these religious experiences from the study of biological brain events. Given the substantial research on the science of religion, this article explores the physiological changes of college students engaged in regular spiritual practices. Students were asked to engage in intentional spiritual formational practices, such as prayer, meditation, Scripture reading, and contemplation, to see if these practices impacted their physiological activities, including brain wave, heart rate, skin response (sweat), and reaction time changes. A variety of neuropsychological measures such as the Beck Depression Inventory, State/Trait Anxiety Scale, heart beats per minute, galvanic skin response, and electrophysiological encephalography measures were gathered at the beginning and the end of the course to measure physiological activity. The purpose was to discover whether students’ physiological measures changed as a result of spiritual formation practices. This study has implications for Christian educators: As persons engage in regular contemplative practices, this can result in behavioral changes in the brain.