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The development of neural correlates for memory formation.
1Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences and McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, United States. noa.ofen@wayne.edu, noa@mit.edu
Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews
|March 15, 2012
Summary
This review explores how episodic memory develops in the brain, integrating behavioral, adult neural, and structural data. It examines how memory strategies, medial temporal lobe function, and content representation influence memory formation across development.
Area of Science:
- Developmental cognitive neuroscience
- Neuroscience of memory
Background:
- Episodic memory development is increasingly studied, often using neuroimaging during memory encoding.
- Existing research primarily focuses on developmental trajectories of memory formation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and integrate evidence from behavioral studies, adult neural correlates, and structural brain development.
- To examine developmental functional neuroimaging studies of memory formation in relation to key hypotheses.
- To discuss open issues and future directions in memory development research.
Main Methods:
- Literature review integrating behavioral, adult neuroimaging, and structural brain development data.
- Analysis of developmental functional neuroimaging studies on memory formation.
- Evaluation of hypotheses concerning memory strategies, medial temporal lobe function, and content representation.
Main Results:
- Memory development is linked to evolving memory strategies, associated with prefrontal cortex development.
- Medial temporal lobe (MTL) contributions to memory formation are complex and align with current understanding of MTL functions.
- Neurocognitive shifts in how content is represented significantly impact memory development.
Conclusions:
- Episodic memory development is a multifaceted process influenced by strategic, structural, and representational changes.
- Integrating diverse evidence provides a foundation for understanding memory development from a cognitive neuroscience perspective.
- Further research is needed to address open questions and advance the field of memory development.
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