Efficiency Of Short-term Memory Research Articles

Physical strength levels and short-term memory efficiency in primary school children: a possible match?

Physical strength stimulation and, in general, physical activity induces brain plasticity (functional and structural adaptations) in different cerebral areas, benefiting executive function, cognition, attention and academic performance, which is usually estimated by measuring the Intelligent Quotient (IQ), and IQ is related to short-term memory, generally during school age. However, very little is known about the role of physical strength on short-term memory efficiency. Therefore, the primary aim of this study is to examine whether the level of physical strength can positively impact short-term memory efficiency in primary school children. Additionally, if this effect is observed, the secondary goal of this study is to determine whether the age of the participants plays a role in mediating and moderating this influence. Seventy-five children from a primary school in the metropolitan area of Turin were recruited for this study. Each subject performed the overhead medicine ball toss (backwards) test to assess physical strength and the Digit Span test from the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC) to evaluate short-term memory efficiency. Firstly, a simple mediation model was used to identify the possible impact of physical strength levels on short-term memory efficiency and the potential role of participants' chronological age. Secondly, a moderation model was carried out to observe if age could moderate the impact of physical training on short-term memory efficiency and the different significance levels of the moderator. Significance was assumed at P<0.05. The results showed a statistically significant direct effect of physical strength on short-term memory (Β=0.429, t<inf>(72)</inf>=3.247, P<0.01). On the contrary, age was not statistically significant (Β=0.167, t<inf>(72)</inf>=3.247, P=0.211). Furthermore, a significant interaction between strength and age was identified by the moderation model (β=-0.270, P<0.01). Specifically, the impact of physical strength levels on short-term memory increased for individuals who were above the mean age (β=0.755, P<0.001). but not for those under the mean age (β=0.215, P=0.153). This model explains 37.2% of the variance in memory (R2=0.372, F<inf>(3, 71)</inf>=14.031, P<0.001). These findings suggest that physical strength can positively influence short-term memory. In addition, this impact is enhanced in older-age children. Thus, primary school programs should stimulate physical strength to help children develop cognitive abilities.

The STin2VNTR Polymorphism of the Serotonin Transporter Protein: Association with the Efficiency of Short-Term Memory in Young and Elderly Subjects

Cognitive abilities and the rate of their extinction with age are shown to be determined to a significant extent by genetic factors. The serotoninergic system of the brain affects the development and plastic rearrangements of the brain, and plays an important role in learning and memory processes. Links found between the activity of the serotonin transporter gene and the efficiency of memory processes provided grounds for studying associations between the efficiency of memory and the STin2VNTR polymorphism, which results from a change in the number of tandem repeats in intron 2, which has two frequent alleles (10 and 12 repeats) and one rare (nine repeats) allele. This polymorphism fulfils the role of an allele-dependent amplifier of gene expression. The studies involved younger (n = 204: 84 men and 120 women, age 19–35 years) and older (n = 129: 57 men and 72 women, age over 55 years) right-handed subjects. The efficiency of verbal memory was determined in terms of reproduction of words heard with the right and left ears in a dichotic test procedure and in terms of a measure of the recognition, among distractors, of syllables previously displayed on a screen; imaginal memory efficiency was tested in terms of shape recognition. Regardless of other factors, carriers of the 12/12 genotype of the STin2VNTR polymorphism, as compared with carriers of the 10 allele, demonstrated significantly better memorization of dichotically presented words and imaginal memory. For imaginal memory, the genotype effect was more marked in the older age group.