Volumetric and microstructural regional changes of the hippocampus underlying development of recall performance after extended retention intervals. (December 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fjell, Anders M.; Sneve, Markus H.; Sederevicius, Donatas; Sørensen, Øystein; Krogsrud, Stine K.; Mowinckel, Athanasia M.; Walhovd, Kristine B.
• Is Part Of: Developmental cognitive neuroscience. Volume 40(2019)
• Publication Date: 2019-12
• Subjects: Episodic memory -- Long-term memory -- Hippocampus -- Development -- Volume -- Mean diffusion; Cognitive neuroscience -- Periodicals; Developmental neurobiology -- Periodicals; Neuropsychology -- Periodicals; Neuropsychiatry -- Periodicals; 612.8233
• DOI: 10.1016/j.dcn.2019.100723
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1878-9293

Abstract

Highlights: Unique developmental effects on recall over days rather than minutes. Development of visual recall explainable by visuo-constructive ability. Development of verbal recall not explained by verbal ability. Modest relationships between recall performance and hippocampus structure. Abstract: Performance on recall tests improves through childhood and adolescence, in part due to structural maturation of the medial temporal cortex. Although partly different processes support successful recall over shorter vs. longer intervals, recall is usually tested after less than an hour. The aim of the present study was to test whether there are unique developmental changes in recall performance using extended retention intervals, and whether these are related to structural maturation of sub-regions of the hippocampus. 650 children and adolescents from 4.1 to 24.8 years were assessed in total 962 times (mean interval ≈ 1.8 years). The California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT) and the Rey Complex Figure Test (CFT) were used. Recall was tested 30 min and ≈ 10 days after encoding. We found unique developmental effects on recall in the extended retention interval condition independently of 30 min recall performance. For CVLT, major improvements happened between 10 and 15 years. For CFT, improvement was linear and was accounted for by visuo-constructive abilities. The relationships did not show anterior-posterior hippocampal axis differences. In conclusion, performance on recall tests using extended retention intervals shows unique development, likely due to changes in encoding depth or efficacy, or improvements of long-term consolidation processes.