Working Memory Development from Early Childhood to Adolescence Using Two Nationally Representative Samples

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  • Author(s): Ahmed, Sammy F. (ORCID Ahmed, Sammy F. (ORCID 0000-0003-3814-2955); Ellis, Alexa; Ward, Kaitlin P. (ORCID Ward, Kaitlin P. (ORCID 0000-0003-0780-2359); Chaku, Natasha (ORCID Chaku, Natasha (ORCID 0000-0003-0944-6159); Davis-Kean, Pamela E. (ORCID Davis-Kean, Pamela E. (ORCID 0000-0001-8389-6268)
  • Language:
    English
  • Source:
    Developmental Psychology. Oct 2022 58(10):1962-1973.
  • Publication Date:
    2022
  • Document Type:
    Journal Articles
    Reports - Research
  • Additional Information
    • Availability:
      American Psychological Association. Journals Department, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002. Tel: 800-374-2721; Tel: 202-336-5510; Fax: 202-336-5502; e-mail: [email protected]; Web site: http://www.apa.org
    • Peer Reviewed:
      Y
    • Source:
      12
    • Sponsoring Agency:
      National Science Foundation (NSF)
      Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) (DHHS/NIH)
    • Contract Number:
      1749294
      1519686
      T32HD007109
    • Subject Terms:
      Short Term Memory; Longitudinal Studies; Children; Adolescents; Child Development; Gender Differences; Age Differences
    • Subject Terms:
      Early Childhood Longitudinal Survey; Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children; Woodcock Johnson Tests of Achievement
    • Accession Number:
      10.1037/dev0001396
    • ISSN:
      0012-1649
      1939-0599
    • Abstract:
      We leveraged nationally representative data from the Panel study of Income Dynamics-Child Development Supplement (N = 3,562) and the Early Childhood Longitudinal study (N = 18,174), to chart the development of working memory, indexed via verbal forward and backward digit span task performance, from 3 to 19 years of age. Results revealed nonlinear growth patterns for forward and backward digit span tasks, with the most rapid growth occurring during childhood followed by a brief accelerated period of growth during early adolescence. We also found similar developmental trajectories on digit span task performance for males and females across the U.S. population. Together, this study highlights the relative importance of the childhood period for working memory development and provides researchers with a reference against which to compare the developmental changes of working memory in individual studies. From a practical perspective, clinicians and educators can also use this information to understand important periods of working memory growth using national developmental trends.
    • Abstract:
      As Provided
    • Notes:
      https://osf.io/szvmx
    • Publication Date:
      2023
    • Accession Number:
      EJ1366531