Development of autonoetic autobiographical memory in school-age children: genuine age effect or development of basic cognitive abilities?
This study investigated the mechanisms behind episodic autobiographical memory (EAM) development in school-age children. Thirty children (6-11years) performed a novel EAM test. We computed one index of episodicity via autonoetic consciousness and two indices of retrieval spontaneity (overall and EAM-specific) for a recent period (previous school year) and a more remote one (preschool years). Executive functions, and episodic and personal semantic memory were assessed. Results showed that recent autobiographical memories (AMs) were mainly episodic, unlike remote ones. An age-related increase in the indices of episodicity and specific spontaneity for recent AMs was mainly mediated by an age-related increase in the efficiency of the three cognitive abilities. Remote AMs varied only slightly with age (overall spontaneity), reflecting improvements in semantic abilities. Thus, EAM development in school-age children is essentially bound up with the increasing efficiency of cognitive abilities. Results are discussed in the light of models of childhood amnesia.
Picard
Laurence
L
Inserm-EPHE, Université de Caen/Basse-Normandie, Unité U923, GIP Cyceron, CHU Côte de Nacre, Caen, France.
Reffuveille
Isméry
I
Eustache
Francis
F
Piolino
Pascale
P
D000367:Age Factors; D001076:Aptitude; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D003071:Cognition; D003243:Consciousness; D056344:Executive Function; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007092:Imagination; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D021641:Recognition, Psychology; D012153:Retention, Psychology; D012660:Semantics; D057190:Stroop Test