Toward an integrative model accounting for typical and atypical development of visuospatial short-term memory

ABSTRACT

The origin of visuospatial short-term memory (STM) impairment is poorly investigated and is generally considered to be the result of a more global visuospatial deficit. However, previous studies suggest an important influence of two elements on performance in visuospatial STM tasks, the mode of presentation (i.e., simultaneous and sequential), and the visuospatial arrangement (structured vs. unstructured). With regards to a recent proposal, the aim of this study was to examine the development of the two modes of presentation and the visuospatial arrangement of visuospatial information in STM in a hundred typically developing participants aged from 4 years old to adults. Moreover, we also examined how the model explains the pattern of visuospatial STM deficit in two neurodevelopmental syndromes with different profiles in terms of STM abilities, namely Williams syndrome and Down syndrome. We found distinct performance for sequential and simultaneous presentation only from 11 years old with better performance in simultaneous than in sequential presentation mode and a sensitivity to visuospatial arrangement that increases with age. Both syndromes presented deficits at different levels, people with Williams syndrome for visuospatial arrangement and with Down syndrome for simultaneous visuospatial information in STM. The results demonstrate the importance to consider the influence of preexisting visuospatial knowledge on STM abilities. A two processing route model of STM is an interesting framework to interpret the different results.

KEYWORDS:

• Working memory
• child development
• visuospatial skills
• down syndrome
• Williams syndrome

Acknowledgments

The project was supported by the F.R.S.- FNRS (Fund for Scientific Research, FNRS, Belgium) grant PDR-T.0163.14 and MPN and LA are supported by the F.R.S.- FNRS. We would like to thank the service of University Saint-Luc Hospital, the Pediatric service of CHC and the association APEM T21 for contacts of family and to address a special thanks to the families of patients with WS, DS, and control participants for their time and the effort they invested in this study.

Disclosure statement

The manuscript represents original material that has not been published previously and that is not being considered for publication elsewhere. All authors have substantially contributed to this work and have approved the final version of the manuscript. The manuscript agrees with APA ethical standards. There is no conflict of interest in connection with this work.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Fonds De La Recherche Scientifique – FNRS [PDR-T.0163.14].