Did the popsicle melt? Preschoolers’ performance in an episodic-like memory task
Open accessAbstract
Episodic memory has been tested in non-human animals using depletion paradigms that assess recollection for the "what", "where" and "when" (i.e., how long ago). This paradigm has not been used with human children, yet doing so would provide another means to explore their episodic memory development. Using a depletion paradigm, preschool-aged children were presented in two trials with a preferred food that was only edible after a short interval and a less-preferred food that was edible after the short and long intervals. Younger (mean = 40 months) and older (mean = 65 months) children tended to choose their preferred food after the short intervals, but did not switch to selecting their less-preferred food after the long intervals. Importantly, their choices did not differ with age. Although older children better remembered "what", "where", and "what is where" than did younger children, neither age group successfully estimated "how long ago" an event occurred. Finally, both age groups spontaneously recalled information about Trial 1. We also analysed the relation between the different measures used in the study but no clear patterns emerged. Results are discussed with respect to the cognitive mechanisms necessary to succeed in depletion paradigms and the measurement of episodic memory more broadly.
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Humans appear to use conscious episodic memory in episodic-like memory tasks in some instances, but in others they fail the tasks altogether.
“However, although humans appear to use conscious episodic memory in episodic-like memory tasks in some instances [106], in others they fail the tasks altogether [107,108].”
From Is episodic-like memory <i>like</i> episodic memory? (2024) · cites this paper as [108]
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- Authors
- Martin-Ordas, G., Atance, C. M., & Caza, J.
- Affiliations
- Centre for Behaviour and Evolution, Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
- University of Ottawa (CA)
- Venue
- Memory
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2017-02-16
- Volume
- 25
- Issue
- 9
- Pages
- 1260-1271
- ISSN
- 0965-8211 (ISSN-L)
- 1464-0686
- OpenAlex
- W2580374305
- Cited by
- 20
- References
- 66
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 2
- FWCI
- 1.26
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- hdl.handle.net
- Licence
- public-domain
- Locations
- Memory (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Stirling Online Research Repository (University of Stirling) (submittedVersion, public-domain)
- Newcastle University ePrints (Newcastle Univesity)
- Funders
- Marie Sklodowska-Curie
- Horizon 2020
- Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory Processes and Influences
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Child and Animal Learning Development
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Functions and Memory
- Keywords
- episodic memory, preschool children, memory development, recollection, temporal memory, age differences, food choice, spontaneous recall
- MeSH terms
- Child, Preschool, Choice Behavior, Female, Humans, Male, Neuropsychological Tests, Time Perception, Memory, Episodic
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