emphasis on infancy reflects our belief that biological and neuropsycholo-
gical mechanisms operating in that age period have especially important
implications for the rest of the life span. However, the underemphasis in
this volume on adulthood and old age does not indicate any doubts on our
part as to the significance of biological and neuropsychological mechanisms
in that age. Three papers given at the conference dealt with adulthood and
old age; however, the author of one paper had agreed to contribute to the
conference but not to the published proceedings, and the author of another
was unable to prepare a chapter for publication because of ill health.

The success of the Thirteenth West Virginia University Life-Span Devel-
opmental Conference must be shared among and attributed to many
persons. The idea for the conference originated with Hayne W. Reese,
Centennial Professor and Director of the Developmental Training Program
in the Department of Psychology. Financial support was provided through
the generosity of Barry A. Edelstein from the chair's office in the
Department of Psychology, James M. Stevenson from the chair's office in
the Department of Behavioral Medicine and Psychiatry, the Office of the
Associate Provost for Research and Graduate Studies administered by
William E. Vehse, and the National Institute of Mental Health ( Grant T32
MH18374).

The daily activities of the conference would not have been possible
without the assistance of our student aides. Our most special thanks go to
these graduate students, who served as guides, transporters, and assistants
for speakers and attendees: Patrick T. Davies, Keith T. Jones, Frank H.
Jurden, Liang-Jei Lee, Elizabeth R. Levelle, Lillian M. Michalko, Eileen J.
Reamy, Kelly S. Simpson, M. Joy Stewart, Ruth H. Tunick, and especially,
Edie Jo Hall and Constance E. Toffle, who served as aides-in-chief. We
also acknowledge with deep gratitude the secretarial aid of Ann Davis and
Sandy Townsend and the management of records and funds by Janet
Stalewski.

-- Hayne W. Reese
-- Michael D. Franzen

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