Research Article

Influences of postconceptional age and postnatal experience on the development of auditory recognition memory in the newborn infant

  1. Raye-Ann deRegnier1,*,
  2. Sandi Wewerka2,
  3. Michael K. Georgieff3,
  4. Frank Mattia4,
  5. Charles A. Nelson5

Article first published online: 24 SEP 2002

DOI: 10.1002/dev.10070

Issue

Developmental Psychobiology

Developmental Psychobiology

Volume 41, Issue 3, pages 216–225, 2002

Additional Information

How to Cite

deRegnier, R.-A., Wewerka, S., Georgieff, M. K., Mattia, F. and Nelson, C. A. (2002), Influences of postconceptional age and postnatal experience on the development of auditory recognition memory in the newborn infant. Dev. Psychobiol., 41: 216–225. doi: 10.1002/dev.10070

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Pediatrics, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611

  2. 2

    Institute of Child Development, University of Minnesotam, Minneapolis, MN 55455

  3. 3

    Institute of Child Development and Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455

  4. 4

    St. Vincent Hospital, Green Bay, WI 54307

  5. 5

    Institute of Child Development and Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455

*Department of Pediatrics, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 24 SEP 2002
  2. Article first published online: 24 SEP 2002
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 21 OCT 2001
  4. Manuscript Received: 21 AUG 2001

Funded by

  • NIH. Grant Numbers: NS 32755, HD 29421
  • Vikings Children's Fund
  • Minnesota Medical Foundation
  • Children's Hospital Association

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Keywords:

  • newborn infant;
  • auditory recognition memory;
  • maturation and experience

Abstract

We evaluated the effects of postconceptional age and postnatal experience on the development of neonatal auditory recognition memory. Three groups were tested: a premature newborn group (tested at 35–38 weeks postconceptional age, ≤1 week old), a full-term newborn group (tested at 39–42 weeks postconceptional age, ≤1 week old), and a full-term experienced group (tested at 39–42 weeks postconceptional age, >1 week old; range 8–30 days). Event-related potentials were collected while infants listened to the maternal voice alternating with a stranger's voice. Postconceptional age was correlated with the development of recognition memory for the maternal voice while there were qualitative effects of postnatal experience on latency measurements. Maturity of auditory cortical responses was not correlated with recognition memory abilities. We conclude that maturation of the recognition memory pathways is primarily a function of postconceptional age with qualitative effects of postnatal experience. Maturation of the auditory recognition memory pathway is not contingent upon maturation of the “P2” peak thought to arise from primary auditory cortex. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 41: 216–225, 2002. Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/dev.10070

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