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Ontogeny is different for explicit and implicit memory in humans
V Hömberg1, U Bickmann, K Müller
1Neurological Therapy Center, Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf, FRG.
Neuroscience Letters
|February 19, 1993
Summary
Explicit and implicit memory show different developmental trajectories in children. Explicit memory improves with age, while implicit memory remains consistent across childhood.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Declarative/explicit and procedural/implicit learning are distinct memory subsystems.
- These memory systems are differentially impacted in various pathological conditions.
- Understanding their developmental trajectories is crucial for clinical and theoretical insights.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the ontogenetic differences between explicit and implicit memory development in children.
- To determine if explicit and implicit memory mature at different rates during childhood.
- To provide further evidence for the existence of separate memory systems.
Main Methods:
- Sixty-one children aged 5-10 years participated.
- Explicit memory was assessed using verbal story and non-verbal pictorial recall tasks.
- Implicit memory was evaluated with a motor mirror tracking task and the Tower of Hanoi puzzle.
Main Results:
- Explicit memory tasks demonstrated a clear developmental progression, with recall performance increasing with age.
- Adult-like performance for explicit memory was not observed until ages 9-10 years.
- No significant age-related differences were found in implicit memory task performance.
Conclusions:
- Explicit and implicit memory exhibit distinct maturational trends during childhood.
- These findings support the concept of separate, independently developing memory systems.
- The study highlights differential development crucial for understanding memory disorders.