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Updated: May 24, 2026
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Universal Screening for Prevention of Reading, Writing, and Math Disabilities in Spanish
Published on: July 18, 2020
Developmental pattern of digit span in Spanish population.
María Victoria Sebastián1, Laura Hernández-Gil
1Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28223 Madrid, Spain. mvsebastian@psi.ucm.es
Psicothema
|March 17, 2012
Summary
This study shows that working memory, specifically the phonological loop, continues developing in Spanish individuals until age 17. This contrasts with Anglo-Saxon data and suggests age impacts this cognitive function more than dementia.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
Background:
- Working memory is crucial for cognitive functions.
- The phonological loop, a component of working memory, is assessed using digit span tasks.
- Previous research indicates differing developmental trajectories for cognitive functions across populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the developmental trajectory of the phonological loop in a Spanish population.
- To compare Spanish developmental data with existing Anglo-Saxon data.
- To examine the influence of aging and dementia on the phonological loop.
Main Methods:
- A verbal digit span test was administered to 570 Spanish participants aged 5 to 17.
- Results were compared with data from healthy elderly, Alzheimer's disease, and Frontotemporal dementia patients.
Main Results:
- Digit memory span in the Spanish sample continued to increase until age 17.
- This developmental pattern differs from Anglo-Saxon data, where the peak is observed by age 15.
- Phonological loop function appears more sensitive to age-related changes than to dementia in the studied groups.
Conclusions:
- The phonological loop shows a prolonged developmental period in Spanish individuals compared to Anglo-Saxon populations.
- Aging significantly impacts the phonological loop, whereas dementia has a less pronounced effect.
- These findings highlight population-specific developmental patterns in working memory components.
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