Chapter 8 - Declarative memory in infancy: Lessons learned from typical and atypical development

Abstract

Publisher Summary A great deal has been learned about the typical course of development of declarative memory in infants and very young children. This chapter presents significant progress in the understanding of some of the factors and conditions that affect the development of this fundamental cognitive capacity. Now, it is apparent that the capacity is well preserved in the species. Although the performance of many of the groups tested in the research presented in the chapter was impaired relative to comparison groups, in all cases, the infants showed evidence of learning and of retention over brief delays. However, the fact that brief delays had pronounced negative effects on several of the groups speaks to the fragility of the capacity. More research is needed to identify the factors and conditions that facilitate and interfere with the development of declarative memory. Careful attention to prenatal and postnatal influences will aid in identification of the critical variables and limiting conditions, thereby allowing for construction of a model of declarative memory development that explains the atypical, as well as the typical.