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Inattentive behaviour is associated with poor working memory and slow processing speed in very pre-term children in

Hanna Mulder1, Nicola J Pitchford, Neil Marlow

  • 1Division of Human Development, School of Clinical Sciences, University of Nottingham, UK. nicola.pitchford@nottingham.ac.uk

The British Journal of Educational Psychology
|March 12, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Very pre-term (VPT) children show more behavioral issues, including inattention and hyperactivity. These difficulties are linked to impairments in processing speed and working memory, not inhibition.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Problem behaviors are common in children born very pre-term (VPT).
  • The specific mechanisms underlying these behavioral difficulties remain unclear.
  • Inattention and overactivity are frequently observed in VPT children.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the neuropsychological underpinnings of behavioral problems in VPT children.
  • To compare VPT children with term-born peers on cognitive tasks.
  • To relate cognitive performance to parent and teacher behavioral assessments.

Main Methods:

  • VPT children (gestational age < 31 weeks) and term-born controls (aged 9-10 years) were assessed.
  • Cognitive functions including working memory, inhibition, and processing speed were evaluated.
  • Parent and teacher reports using standardized questionnaires captured behavioral problems.

Main Results:

  • VPT children exhibited higher rates of total difficulties, hyperactivity, emotional, and peer problems.
  • VPT children also showed increased overactive/impulsive behavior and inattention.
  • Impaired processing speed and working memory correlated with inattentive and overactive/impulsive behaviors.

Conclusions:

  • Cognitive impairments in processing speed and working memory may explain behavioral issues in VPT children.
  • The expected link between overactive/impulsive behavior and inhibitory control was not found.
  • The nature of behavioral difficulties in VPT children may differ from term-born children.

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