Abstract
Aim: This study tested sex differences in the association between hippocampal volume and working memory of a national sample of 9–10-year-old children in the US. As the hippocampus is functionally lateralized (especially in task-related activities), we explored the results for the right and the left hippocampus. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study using the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study data. This analysis included baseline ABCD data (n = 10,093) of children between ages 9 and 10 years. The predictor variable was right and left hippocampal volume measured by structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI). The primary outcome, list sorting working memory, was measured using the NIH toolbox measure. Sex was the moderator. Age, race, ethnicity, household income, parental education, and family structure were the covariates. Results: In the overall sample, larger right (b = 0.0013; p < 0.001) and left (b = 0.0013; p < 0.001) hippocampal volumes were associated with higher children’s working memory. Sex had statistically significant interactions with the right (b = −0.0018; p = 0.001) and left (b = −0.0012; p = 0.022) hippocampal volumes on children’s working memory. These interactions indicated stronger positive associations between right and left hippocampal volume and working memory for females compared to males. Conclusion: While right and left hippocampal volumes are determinants of children’s list sorting working memory, these effects seem to be more salient for female than male children. Research is needed on the role of socialization, sex hormones, and brain functional connectivity as potential mechanisms that may explain the observed sex differences in the role of hippocampal volume as a correlate of working memory.
Highlights
The hippocampus plays a major role in different aspects of learning and memory, including, but not limited to, working memory [1], declarative and procedural memory [2], and short- and long-term memory [3,4]
Research is needed on the role of socialization, sex hormones, and brain functional connectivity as potential mechanisms that may explain the observed sex differences in the role of hippocampal volume as a correlate of working memory
The results reported here may help us better understand how sex differences in working memory emerge and how they contribute to sex differences in academic achievement [95]
Summary
The hippocampus plays a major role in different aspects of learning and memory, including, but not limited to, working memory [1], declarative and procedural memory [2], and short- and long-term memory [3,4]. The size of the hippocampus is linked to higher levels of memory and learning [1,5]. Children and adults with larger hippocampal volumes show higher memory levels [5,6], mainly working memory. Working memory refers to a system for combining the storage and manipulation of information to perform complex cognitive activities [7,8]. Working memory closely reflects the simultaneous involvement of short-term memory and executive functioning in a task. It involves interacting influences of temporary storage and attentionally based executive control [9]
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