title: A compensatory role for declarative memory in neurodevelopmental disorders.
abstract: Most research on neurodevelopmental disorders has focused on their abnormalities. However, what remains intact may also be important. Increasing evidence suggests that declarative memory, a critical learning and memory system in the brain, remains largely functional in a number of neurodevelopmental disorders. Because declarative memory remains functional in these disorders, and because it can learn and retain numerous types of information, functions, and tasks, this system should be able to play compensatory roles for multiple types of impairments across the disorders. Here, we examine this hypothesis for specific language impairment, dyslexia, autism spectrum disorder, Tourette syndrome, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. We lay out specific predictions for the hypothesis and review existing behavioral, electrophysiological, and neuroimaging evidence. Overall, the evidence suggests that declarative memory indeed plays compensatory roles for a range of impairments across all five disorders. Finally, we discuss diagnostic, therapeutic and other implications.
authors.affiliation: Brain and Language Laboratory, Department of Neuroscience, Georgetown University, Box 571464, Washington, DC 20057-1464, United States. Electronic address: michael@georgetown.edu.
authors.forename: Michael T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Ullman
authors.affiliation: Brain and Language Laboratory, Department of Neuroscience, Georgetown University, Box 571464, Washington, DC 20057-1464, United States.
authors.forename: Mariel Y
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Pullman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Aphasia; Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD); Autism; Autism spectrum disorder (ASD); Basal ganglia; Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT); Compensation; Declarative memory; Developmental coordination disorder (DCD); Developmental disorders; Dyslexia; Electrophysiology; Event-related potentials (ERPs); Explicit; Explicit memory; Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI); Habit reversal training; Hippocampus; Language disorder; Medial temporal lobe (MTL); Neurodevelopmental disorders; Neuroimaging; Obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD); Parkinson's disease (PD); Positron emission tomography (PET); Procedural memory; Sex differences; Specific language impairment (SLI); Specific learning disorder; Striatum; Tourette syndrome; Underdiagnosis