Electrophysiological indices of memory for temporal order in early childhood: implications for the development of recollection.

Full Abstract

The ability to recall contextual details associated with an event begins to develop in the first year of life, yet adult levels of recall are not reached until early adolescence. Dual-process models of memory suggest that the distinct retrieval process that supports the recall of such contextual information is recollection. In the present investigation, we used both behavioral and electrophysiological measures to assess the development of memory for contextual details, as indexed by memory for temporal order, in early childhood. Results revealed age-related improvements in memory for temporal order despite similar levels of memory for the individual items themselves. Furthermore, this pattern of recall was associated with specific components in the electrophysiological response. Consistent with electrophysiological research in adults, distributed, positive-going activity late in the waveform was associated with increases in recall of contextual details and the development of recollective processes.

Author information

Author/s: Riggins, Tracy (T); Miller, Neely C (NC); Bauer, Patricia J (PJ); Georgieff, Michael K (MK); Nelson, Charles A (CA);

Affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA. riggins(-atsign-)umd.edu

Grants: HD28425 (Agency:NICHD NIH HHS) ; HD29421 (Agency:NICHD NIH HHS) ; NS34458 (Agency:NINDS NIH HHS) ; R01 HD029421-14 (Agency:NICHD NIH HHS) ; R01 NS034458-12 (Agency:NINDS NIH HHS) ; RR00400 (Agency:NCRR NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

Journal: Developmental science (Dev Sci), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Mar; vol 12 (issue 2) : pp 209-19

Dates: Created 2009/01/15; Completed 2009/03/05; Revised 2009/11/03;

PMID: 19143795, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/4/2009, IMS Date: 04 Nov 2009 00:00:00)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

External Links for this article
(including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.

MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

This article has not been indexed for related articles as yet, however you can still use the live related article search links below.

See 100+ related articles.

See a large map of 100+ related articles.