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Spatial span in very prematurely born adolescents
Pia Saavalainen1, Laila Luoma, Dermot Bowler
1Department of Psychology, University of Joensuu, Joensuu, Finland. pia.saavalainen@kuh.fi
Developmental Neuropsychology
|October 25, 2007
Summary
Adolescents born very preterm (< or = 32 weeks gestation) showed minor deficits in spatial working memory at age 16. However, overall cognitive capacity and processing speed remained comparable to full-term peers.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Preterm birth is associated with potential long-term neurodevelopmental challenges.
- Understanding the specific cognitive outcomes in adolescence is crucial for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess working memory and processing speed in adolescents born very preterm compared to full-term controls.
- To identify any specific cognitive deficits related to very preterm birth at age 16.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 35 adolescents born very preterm (gestational age <= 32 weeks) and 31 full-term controls were evaluated at 16 years of age.
- Cognitive functions including verbal IQ, processing speed, and various working memory tasks (e.g., complex spatial span) were assessed.
- Statistical analyses controlled for verbal IQ and processing speed to isolate effects on spatial working memory.
Main Results:
- No significant differences were found in verbal IQ or most working memory tasks between the groups.
- Adolescents born preterm demonstrated a statistically significant deficit in complex spatial span performance.
- Gestational age was identified as the primary predictor of spatial span performance, even after controlling for other cognitive factors.
Conclusions:
- Very preterm birth, even without major disabilities, is associated with a subtle spatial working memory deficit in adolescence.
- These findings suggest generally minor neuropsychological consequences of very preterm birth, offering encouraging long-term outlooks.
- Further research into specific spatial cognitive functions in preterm populations is warranted.
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