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The Development of Attention Systems and Working Memory in Infancy
Greg D Reynolds1, Alexandra C Romano1
1Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Psychology, University of Tennessee Knoxville, TN, USA.
Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience
|March 15, 2016
Summary
Infant attention significantly impacts recognition memory. Further research is needed to explore attention
Area of Science:
- Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience
- Infant Cognitive Development
- Neuroscience of Memory
Background:
- Attention and working memory are crucial cognitive functions developing in infancy.
- Existing research links attention to recognition memory but not working memory in infants.
- Understanding these developmental trajectories is key to cognitive science.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review research on attention development in infancy.
- To examine the influence of attention on infant memory systems.
- To explore working memory development, neural correlates, and measurement challenges in infants.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing research and theoretical frameworks.
- Analysis of studies using behavioral (looking measures) and electrophysiological (event-related potentials, ERPs) methods.
- Examination of studies on infant working memory and its neural underpinnings.
Main Results:
- Significant developmental changes in sustained and selective attention observed throughout infancy.
- Infants show age-related gains in attention magnitude and duration.
- Attention influences infant recognition memory performance, but its role in working memory is under-researched.
Conclusions:
- Attention systems undergo substantial development during infancy.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the relationship between attention and working memory development in infants.
- Distinguishing working memory from recognition memory in infants requires careful methodological consideration.
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