Developmental Trends for Object and Spatial Working Memory: a Psychophysiological Analysis

  1. Linda Van Leijenhorst1,
  2. Eveline A. Crone1,
  3. Maurits W. Van der Molen2

Article first published online: 16 MAY 2007

DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-8624.2007.01045.x

Issue

Child Development

Child Development

Volume 78, Issue 3, pages 987–1000, May/June 2007

Additional Information

How to Cite

Van Leijenhorst, L., Crone, E. A. and Van der Molen, M. W. (2007), Developmental Trends for Object and Spatial Working Memory: a Psychophysiological Analysis. Child Development, 78: 987–1000. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-8624.2007.01045.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Leiden University

  2. 2

    University of Amsterdam

* concerning this article should be addressed to Linda Van Leijenhorst, Department of Developmental Psychology, Leiden University, Wassenaarseweg 52, 2333 AK, Leiden, The Netherlands. Electronic mail may be sent to lleijenhorst@fsw.leidenuniv.nl.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 1 JUN 2007
  2. Article first published online: 16 MAY 2007

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This study examined developmental trends in object and spatial working memory (WM) using heart rate (HR) to provide an index of covert cognitive processes. Participants in 4 age groups (6–7, 9–10, 11–12, 18–26, n=20 each) performed object and spatial WM tasks, in which each trial was followed by feedback. Spatial WM task performance reached adult levels before object WM task performance. The differential developmental trends for object and spatial WM found in this study are taken to suggest that these WM components are separable. Negative performance feedback elicited HR slowing that was more pronounced for adults than for children. The development of performance monitoring as indexed by covert HR slowing following performance feedback contributes to WM performance.

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