Memory and executive functioning in 12‐year‐old children with a history of institutional rearing
Open accessAbstract
We examined visual recognition memory and executive functioning (spatial working memory [SWM], spatial planning, rule learning, and attention shifting) in 12-year-olds (n = 150) who participated in the Bucharest Early Intervention Project, a randomized controlled trial of foster care for institutionally reared children. Similar to prior reports at 8 years of age, institutionally reared children showed significant deficits in visual recognition memory and SWM. Deficits in attention shifting and rule learning were also apparent at this time point. These data suggest that early experiences continue to shape the development of memory, learning, and executive functioning processes in preadolescence, which may explain broader cognitive and learning difficulties commonly associated with severe early life neglect.
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The outcomes selected in the current study were chosen a priori to mirror those examined in previous reports and to facilitate cross-study comparison.
“The outcomes selected in the current study were chosen a priori to mirror those examined in previous reports and to facilitate cross-study comparison (19, 20).”
From Long-term effects of institutional rearing, foster care, and brain activity on memory and executive functioning (2019) · cites this paper as [20]
Foster care children had significantly higher IQs than care-as-usual children over time.
“Although IQs of FCG children were significantly higher than those CAUG children over time [26, 27]”
From Alternatives for abandoned children: Insights from the Bucharest Early Intervention Project (2017) · cites this paper as [27]
There were few intervention effects on executive functioning skills.
“there were few intervention effects on executive functioning skills [28, 29], which were not assessed in early childhood.”
From Alternatives for abandoned children: Insights from the Bucharest Early Intervention Project (2017) · cites this paper as [29]
Deprivation exposure has been repeatedly associated with poorer EF during childhood and adolescence.
“Exposure to deprivation is consistently linked to reduced EF in childhood and adolescence (Bick et al., 2018; Hostinar et al., 2012; Merz et al., 2013; Wade, Fox, et al., 2019), as well as alterations in brain function and structure in the frontoparietal network that subserves EF (Berens et al., 2017; McLaughlin et al., 2019).”
From Family-based care buffers the stress sensitizing effect of early deprivation on executive functioning difficulties in adolescence (2023) · cites this paper as Bick et al., 2018
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Alternatives for abandoned children: Insights from the Bucharest Early Intervention Project
Zeanah, C. H., Humphreys, K. L., Fox, N. A., & Nelson, C. A. (2017) · Current Opinion in Psychology · doi:10.1016/j.copsyc.2017.02.024 · Cited by 115 · see citing works
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Self-citationValadez, E. A., Jopling, E., Macera, E., Wade, M., Zeanah, C. H., Nelson, C. A., & Fox, N. A. (2026) · Development and Psychopathology · doi:10.1017/s0954579426101928
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- Authors
- Bick, J., Zeanah, C. H., Fox, N. A., & Nelson, C. A.
- Affiliations
- Boston Children's Hospital (US)
- Tulane University (US)
- University of Maryland, College Park (US)
- Corresponding author
- Nelson, Charles A
- Venue
- Child Development
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 2018-03-01
- Volume
- 89
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 495-508
- ISSN
- 0009-3920 (ISSN-L)
- 1467-8624
- PMC
- PMC5847423
- OpenAlex
- W2756433854
- Cited by
- 90
- References
- 58
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 22 · 2020: 38 · 2019: 6 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 1
- FWCI
- 28.81
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Child Development (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
- Binder Family Foundation
- NIMH (MH091363)
- National Institute of Mental Health (MH091363)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Safety Research › Child Welfare and Adoption
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child Abuse and Trauma
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Abilities and Testing
- Keywords
- institutional upbringing, visual recognition memory, spatial working memory, executive function, spatial planning, rule induction, attentional shift, foster care, Bucharest Early Intervention Project, preadolescents, cognitive development
- MeSH terms
- Attention, Child, Child Development, Child, Institutionalized, Female, Humans, Learning, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Memory, Short-Term, Romania, Space Perception, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic, Recognition, Psychology, Executive Function
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