PreprintCited by 14Memory Processes and InfluencesCognitive Abilities and TestingNeural and Behavioral Psychology Studies

Adolescent-specific memory effects: evidence from working memory, immediate and long-term recognition memory performance in 8–30 yr olds

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Skalaban, Lena J., Cohen, Alexandra O., Conley, May I., Lin, Qi, Schwartz, Garrett N., Ruiz-Huidobro, Nicholas A. M., Cannonier, Tariq, Martinez, Steven A. +1 more·2022·Learning & Memory

Abstract

Working memory and recognition memory develop across adolescence, but the relationship between them is not fully understood. We investigated associations between n-back task performance and subsequent recognition memory in a community sample (8–30 yr, n = 150) using tasks from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study (ABCD Study) to cross-sectionally assess memory in an age range that will be sampled longitudinally. We added a 24-h delay condition to assess long-term recognition. Overall working memory, immediate and long-term recognition performance peaked in adolescence. Age effects in recognition memory varied by items (old targets, old distractors, and new items) and delay (0 and 24 h). For immediate recognition, accuracy was higher for targets and new items than for distractors, with accuracy for targets peaking in adulthood and accuracy for new items peaking during adolescence. For long-term recognition, adolescents’ accuracy was higher for targets than distractors, while adults showed similarly high accuracy for targets and distractors and children showed low accuracy for both. This pattern appeared to be specific to recognition of items from the high working memory load condition. The results suggest that working memory may facilitate long-term recognition of task-relevant over irrelevant items and may benefit the detection of new information during adolescence.

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  • One possible explanation is that updating ability matures later than span ability does, leaving greater room for updating-based training to benefit young individuals.

    “One possible explanation is that updating ability matures later than span ability does, leaving greater room for updating-based training to benefit young individuals (Ahmed et al., 2022; Skalaban et al., 2022).”

    From The asymmetry of working memory training transfer: A systematic review and meta-analysis (2026) · cites this paper as Skalaban et al., 2022

    The Results (Development of working memory; page unavailable) show that n-back performance peaks in the late teens and early twenties, supporting continued development of working memory in young people. The paper does not compare the maturation of updating and span abilities or test whether updating-based training benefits young people. (LLM, conf=0.77)

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Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. Baddeley A. 1986. Working memory, pp. xi, 289. Clarendon Press/Oxford University Press.
  2. Cowan N, Alloway T. 2009. Development of working memory in childhood. In The development of memory in infancy and childhood, 2nd ed. (ed. Courage M, Cowan N), pp. 303– 342. Psychology Press, London.

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Authors
Skalaban, L. J., Cohen, A. O., Conley, M. I., Lin, Q., Schwartz, G. N., Ruiz-Huidobro, N. A. M., Cannonier, T., Martinez, S. A., & Casey, B. J.
Affiliations
  • Yale University (US)
  • New York University (US)
Venue
Learning & Memory
Published
2022-08
Volume
29
Issue
8
Pages
223-233
ISSN
  • 1072-0502 (ISSN-L)
  • 1549-5485
OpenAlex
W4293275327
Cited by
14
References
90
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 2
Type
posted content
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by-nc
Locations
  • Learning & Memory (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
National Science Foundation SBE Postdoctoral Research (U01 DA041174, 1714321)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory Processes and Influences
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Abilities and Testing
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
Keywords
working memory, recognition memory, adolescence, n-back task, age differences in memory, memory development, Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Brain, Child, Cognition, Humans, Memory, Short-Term, Recognition, Psychology, Memory, Long-Term

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