Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 17, 2026

Examining Recall Memory in Infancy and Early Childhood Using the Elicited Imitation Paradigm
06:35

Examining Recall Memory in Infancy and Early Childhood Using the Elicited Imitation Paradigm

Published on: April 28, 2016

[Developmental amnesia in the premature infant]

V Mouron1, S Hays, S Gonzalez-Monge

  • 1Service de néonatologie, hôpital de la Croix-Rousse, hospices civils de Lyon, 69317 Lyon cedex 04, France. virginie.mouron@chu-lyon.fr

Archives De Pediatrie : Organe Officiel De La Societe Francaise De Pediatrie
|December 19, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Developmental amnesia, a rare memory disorder, impairs daily life recall but spares general intelligence. This case highlights the need for vigilant memory assessment in preterm infants, even with normal MRIs.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Cognitive Psychology

Background:

  • Developmental amnesia is a rare memory disorder affecting episodic memory while preserving semantic memory and general intelligence.
  • It typically results from hypoxic ischemic injury causing hippocampal atrophy, significantly disrupting daily life.
  • Memory disorders in children are often underdiagnosed and underreported.

Observation:

  • A preterm infant, small for gestational age, showed normal development until elementary school.
  • The child experienced academic difficulties, repeating first grade and exhibiting behavioral issues.
  • At age 9, referred for suspected dyspraxia, neuropsychological testing revealed selective autobiographical memory impairment.

Findings:

  • The case presented a typical clinical picture of developmental amnesia.
  • Crucially, brain MRI, including the hippocampus, was normal, challenging typical diagnostic markers.
  • This underscores the potential for developmental amnesia in preterm infants without clear hypoxic events.

Implications:

  • Prolonged follow-up of preterm infants is essential until school age to detect cognitive deficits like memory impairment.
  • Normal MRI findings do not exclude developmental amnesia, necessitating comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation.
  • Early identification and tailored educational strategies are vital for children with selective memory deficits.

More Related Videos

Modeling Encephalopathy of Prematurity Using Prenatal Hypoxia-ischemia with Intra-amniotic Lipopolysaccharide in Rats07:36

Modeling Encephalopathy of Prematurity Using Prenatal Hypoxia-ischemia with Intra-amniotic Lipopolysaccharide in Rats

Published on: November 20, 2015

Related Concept Videos

Amnesia01:13

Amnesia

Amnesia is a condition marked by long-term memory loss, which impairs the ability to recall past events or create new memories.
The severity and duration of memory loss vary depending on the type and underlying cause. Amnesia is classified into two main types: retrograde and anterograde.
Retrograde amnesia is marked by the loss of memories formed before the onset of the condition. Patients may recall distant past events but often forget those occurring shortly before the incident.
Anterograde...
Higher Mental Functions of Brain: Learning and Memory01:26

Higher Mental Functions of Brain: Learning and Memory

Memory is one of the most vital higher mental functions of the brain. Memory is closely related to learning because it enables us to retain information and experiences from our past to use them in our present life. It also helps us to remember facts, events, and skills, such as riding a bike or swimming. There are two types of memory — declarative memory, which involves memorizing facts or events, and procedural memory, which enables us to remember how to do something like writing or playing an...
Piaget's Stage 1 of Cognitive Development01:14

Piaget's Stage 1 of Cognitive Development

The sensorimotor stage, the initial phase of Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development, spans the first two years of a child's life. During this period, infants actively engage with their surroundings, building cognitive awareness through direct interaction with the world. This interaction is primarily based on sensory perception and motor actions, allowing infants to gradually understand basic physical properties and predict how objects interact within their environment.
Exploration...
The Nativist Approach01:21

The Nativist Approach

The nativist approach to infant cognitive development proposes that infants are born with inherent knowledge structures that allow them to interpret the world almost immediately. This perspective contrasts with earlier developmental theories, such as those proposed by Jean Piaget, which emphasized a more gradual acquisition of cognitive abilities through interaction with the environment. One key concept in this approach is object permanence — the understanding that objects continue to exist...
Development of Immunocompetence01:22

Development of Immunocompetence

The initiation of cell-mediated immunity can be observed as early as the third month of fetal growth, with active antibody-mediated immunity following approximately one month later.
The initial cells that migrate from the fetal thymus settle within the skin and epithelial tissues lining the mouth, digestive tract, and in females, the uterus and vagina. These cells, including skin-based dendritic cells, serve as antigen-presenting cells, playing a key role in T cell activation.
Subsequent T...
Prosopagnosia01:24

Prosopagnosia

Prosopagnosia, also known as face blindness, is the inability to recognize faces. In severe cases, individuals with prosopagnosia may not recognize close family members, including parents and spouses, by their faces. For instance, someone with prosopagnosia might walk past their child in a crowd, only realizing their mistake upon noticing their child's distinctive backpack or favorite jacket. Prosopagnosia specifically impairs facial recognition, while the recognition of other objects or...