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Developmental trends for object and spatial working memory: a psychophysiological analysis.
Linda Van Leijenhorst1, Eveline A Crone, Maurits W Van der Molen
1Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands. lleijenhorst@fsw.leidenuniv.nl
Child Development
|May 23, 2007
Summary
Spatial working memory (WM) matures before object WM, suggesting they are distinct cognitive functions. Heart rate (HR) slowing after feedback indicates developing performance monitoring that aids WM development.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
Background:
- Working memory (WM) is crucial for cognitive tasks.
- Understanding the developmental trajectories of object and spatial WM is important.
- Heart rate (HR) can serve as a physiological index of cognitive effort and performance monitoring.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate developmental trends in object and spatial working memory.
- To explore the relationship between working memory components and performance monitoring.
- To utilize heart rate (HR) as a measure of covert cognitive processes during development.
Main Methods:
- Participants across four age groups (6-7, 9-10, 11-12, 18-26 years) completed object and spatial working memory tasks.
- Heart rate (HR) was monitored to assess cognitive load and performance feedback processing.
- Performance feedback was provided after each trial to evaluate cognitive monitoring.
Main Results:
- Spatial working memory (WM) performance reached adult levels earlier than object WM performance.
- Differential developmental patterns suggest object and spatial WM are separable cognitive functions.
- Negative feedback elicited greater HR slowing in adults compared to children, indicating age-related differences in performance monitoring.
Conclusions:
- Object and spatial working memory (WM) develop along distinct trajectories, supporting their separability.
- The development of performance monitoring, indexed by heart rate (HR) changes, is linked to working memory maturation.
- Cognitive monitoring abilities mature with age and contribute to overall working memory development.
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