engleski

Relations between performance on (early) memory task and language outcome in children with pre-perinatal brain damage

Studies on rhesus monkeys and infants have shown that performance on an early memory task (AB task) strongly depends on the integrity of dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Infants show clear improvement in a short time period (7.5 - 12 months) which is manifested in the length of delay necessary to provoke AB error. Our clinical and research experience has shown that the AB task could be used as age specific diagnostic procedure for capturing working memory development. This research is trying to prove its predictive value for memory and language outcome in children at neurodevelopmental risk. The research was conducted in two time points. A subset of children with intrauterine growth retardation and/or pre-perinatal brain lesions (n=6) was first seen at the age of 12 months when general (Bayley Scales of Infant Development) and (pre-) verbal development (MacArthur Communicative Developmental Inventory) were assessed. Second part of the research is done on the same subjects in the preschool period (5-6 years). At this point, memory abilities were defined using Digit Span and Visual Segmental Memory (ITPA) and language level was administered through Token Test and Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (PPVT). All the subjects were included in a neurodevelopmental follow-up. Results at the age of 12 months indicate that subjects at neurodevelopmental risk showed lower results on the AB task (shorter delays) than healthy subjects. There was no clear connection between performance on the AB task and early language measures which points to possible separate developmental trajectories of the working memory. Second part of the study is still in the process, the results will be gained on time for the symposium.

Memory task; Language outcome; Pre-perinatal brain damage

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