" (Schultz, 2001) MAJOR FINDINGS

Major findings of this study include the fact that individuals with Williams Syndrome have specific strengths and weaknesses and specifically these individuals are many times and in fact in most cases are extremely developed in terms of their use of vocabulary. Individuals with WS are also extremely good at remembering faces even though they have associated visual-spatial disabilities due to WS. Specific effects to the temporal region of the brain and specifically the left temporal region is often associated with gifted musicians and is an especially well developed region of the brain in those with WS. It has been discovered in the course of this study informed by the work of Bhattacharjee that because the cognitive features in those with WS is so "uniformed and well-defined" that researchers have stated a belief that it is possible that Williams Syndrome has much to offer in the area of study of the genetic basis of the mind of the human being.

CONCLUSION

Science is rapidly advancing in the study of Williams Syndrome and it is likely that this will continue. For the individual with Williams Syndrome, it appears that the cognitive formation of the brain in these individuals is defined well enough across the range of individuals with WS that study of the human brain not only in terms of WS, but in terms of other disorders and human brain development in general may gain much from the study of Williams Syndrome.

(2007) Affect, Social Behavior, and the Brain in Williams Syndrome. Current Directions in Psychological Science. The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California. Online available at http://bvox.salk.edu/publications/2007/bellugi_pasley_curr_dir_2007.pdf
Bhattacharjee, Yudhijit (2005) Friendly Faces and Unusual Minds. Journal of Science Volume 310, Issue 5749. 4 November 2005. Online available at: https://notes.utk.edu/bio/greenberg.nsf/a80806fbebea8dd285257015006e1943/a54d467cc661a3dc852570830051c5f1?OpenDocument

Chiang, Ming-Chang et al. (2007) 3D Pattern of Brain Abnormalities in Williams Syndrome Visualized Using Tenor-Based Morpheometry. Neuroimage. 6 January 2007. Online available at http://www.loni.ucla.edu/twiki/pub/CCB/CCB_Roadmap2007_UnsolvedProblems_Stats01/MingChangChiang_WilliamsSyndrome_THompson_2007.pdf

Schultz, Robert T. (2001) Genetics of Childhood Disorders: XXVI. Williams Syndrome and Brain -- Behavior Relationships. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. May 2001. Online available at: https://notes.utk.edu/bio/greenberg.nsf/a80806fbebea8dd285257015006e1943/a54d467cc661a3dc852570830051c5f1?OpenDocument

Bellugi, U. et al. (2000) (2000). The neurocognitive profile of Williams syndrome: A complex pattern of strengths and weaknesses. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 12, 7-29.

Neurodevelopment of Williams Syndrome (WS)