The Chernobyl Accident and Cognitive Functioning: A Study of Norwegian Adolescents Exposed In Utero

Abstract

The results of investigations on the cognitive outcomes of adolescents exposed prenatally to radiation from Chernobyl are inconsistent. In 2005 through 2006, we assessed individuals exposed prenatally (N = 84) and controls (N = 94) using a broad neuropsychological test battery. Neuropsychological performance was significantly weaker in the 84 adolescents exposed prenatally compared to the 94 controls on measures of verbal working memory, verbal memory, and executive functioning when controlling for possible confounders. Our findings add new and important support to the hypothesis that the Chernobyl accident had a specific effect on the neuropsychological functioning of those exposed prenatally.

Notes

*p ≤ .05;

**p ≤ .01;

***p ≤ .0001; n.s. p > .05. WASI: Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence.

*p ≤ .05;

**p ≤ .01;

***p ≤ .001. BWM: Backward Masking; BVMT–R: Brief Visuospatial Memory Test–Revised CPT-IP: Continuous Performance Test, Identical Pairs; C-W:; HVLT–R: Hopkins Verbal Learning Test—Revised.