title: Putative biomarker of working memory systems development during childhood and adolescence.
abstract: The study aimed to identify brain functional indicators of working memory systems development between 6 and 18 years. Event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded from 251 normally developing children to stimuli requiring the updating of working memory. Cluster analysis of event-related potential componentry divided the sample into three clusters (mean ages 9, 12 and 16 years), with ascending cluster membership independently associated with improved task performance. The clusters correspond to periods of grey matter loss and white matter increase observed in developing children, supporting the view that the clusters delineate three key qualitative stages in advancing cognitive capability during the maturation of higher brain systems function. This outcome identifies a biomarker with the potential for assessing abnormalities in the rate of brain development.
authors.affiliation: Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Flinders University, Australia.
authors.forename: Hannah A D
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Keage
authors.forename: Christopher R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: Daniel F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Hermens
authors.forename: Leanne M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Michael R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Kohn
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Clarke
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lamb
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Crewther
authors.forename: Evian
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gordon
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D015415:Biomarkers; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000254:growth & development*; D002648:Child; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000175:diagnosis; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000502:physiology*; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000254:growth & development*; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers