Developmental aspects and neurobiological correlates of verbal working and associative memory

Authors

G. Goldstein, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare SystemFollow
Daniel N. Allen, University of Nevada, Las VegasFollow
Nicholas Shizuo Thaler, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences CenterFollow
J. F. Luther, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System
K. Panchalingam, University of Pittsburgh - Main Campus
J. W. Pettegrew, University of Pittsburgh - Main Campus

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

7-2014

Publication Title

Neuropsychology

Volume

28

Issue

4

First page number:

496

Last page number:

505

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

It has been shown that verbal working and associative memory have different developmental trajectories with working memory, taking a linear course from early childhood to adolescence, whereas associative memory takes a curvilinear course asymptoting at about age 12. This study made a determination of whether these trajectories tracked with 2 magnetic resonance spectroscopy imaging (MRSI) variables: phosphocreatine level (PCr) and gray matter percentage (GM%).

METHOD:

In a cross-sectional study, 94 children ranging in age from 6-14 years were administered tests of verbal working and associative memory and underwent an MRSI procedure evaluating 6 major brain regions. The study considered PCr levels and GM% in the 6 regions. Loess curves were constructed plotting the memory tests and MRSI variables across age, and trajectories were evaluated.

RESULTS:

PCr showed a linear increase with age, particularly in the left superior temporal lobe with this increase closely tracking improvement in working memory but not associative memory scores. GM% did not increase with age in any brain region, and there was no tracking with either of the memory tests.

CONCLUSION:

Verbal working memory and verbal associative memory have differing age trajectories, with working memory showing close tracking with PCr level, mainly in the left superior temporal lobe. No such tracking was found for the associative memory tests. GM% curves were flat across regions, showing no association with age.

Disciplines

Behavior and Behavior Mechanisms | Medicine and Health Sciences | Mental and Social Health | Mental Disorders | Psychiatry and Psychology | Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy | Psychological Phenomena and Processes

Language

English

Permissions

Use Find in Your Library, contact the author, or interlibrary loan to garner a copy of the item. Publisher policy does not allow archiving the final published version. If a post-print (author's peer-reviewed manuscript) is allowed and available, or publisher policy changes, the item will be deposited.

Repository Citation

Goldstein, G., Allen, D. N., Thaler, N. S., Luther, J. F., Panchalingam, K., Pettegrew, J. W. (2014). Developmental aspects and neurobiological correlates of verbal working and associative memory. Neuropsychology, 28(4), 496-505.