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Updated: May 3, 2026
06:35
Examining Recall Memory in Infancy and Early Childhood Using the Elicited Imitation Paradigm
Published on: April 28, 2016
34.3K
Learning to remember: the early ontogeny of episodic memory
Sinéad L Mullally1, Eleanor A Maguire2
1Institute of Neuroscience, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, United Kingdom.
Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience
|February 1, 2014
Summary
Neuroscience research on human episodic memory development is limited, especially in the first year of life. This review examines infant memory, questioning current models and suggesting neuroimaging for future studies.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Episodic memory's neural basis is well-studied in adults.
- Less attention has been given to the developmental emergence of this system.
- The first postnatal year is critical for understanding memory development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the evolution of memory development studies.
- To examine evidence for and against hippocampal-dependent memory in 9-month-old infants.
- To explore how early relational learning in 3-month-olds fits current models.
Main Methods:
- Literature review focusing on the first postnatal year.
- Analysis of evidence regarding infant episodic memory.
- Discussion of neuroimaging techniques like MRI.
Main Results:
- Dramatic shifts in scientific opinion on infant memory occur within the first year.
- Evidence for and against rudimentary hippocampal-dependent memory at 9 months is reviewed.
- Current models struggle to explain early relational learning observed in 3-month-old infants.
Conclusions:
- There is a lack of direct neurocognitive data on infant memory development.
- Current impasses in infant memory research may be resolved by using neuroimaging.
- Further investigation is needed to reconcile early learning with existing memory models.
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