Cross-Sectional Analysis of Spatial Working Memory Development in Children with Histories of Heavy Prenatal Alcohol Exposure

• Authors: Eileen M Moore, San Diego State University; Leila Glass, San Diego State University; Alejandra M Infante, San Diego State University; Claire Coles, Emory University; Julie Kable, Emory University; Kenneth L Jones, University of California San Diego; Edward P Riley, San Diego State University; Sarah N Mattson, San Diego State University
• Journal Title: ALCOHOLISM-CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH
• Volume: Volume 45, Number 1
• Publisher: WILEY | 2021-01-06, Pages 215-223
• Type of Work: Article | Post-print: After Peer Review
• Publisher DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/acer.14506
• Subjects: Health Sciences, Mental Health
• Keywords: Science & Technology; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; Substance Abuse; FASD; Prenatal Alcohol; Development; Cognition; Spatial Working Memory; EXECUTIVE FUNCTION DEFICITS; SPECTRUM DISORDERS; ADAPTIVE-BEHAVIOR; ADOLESCENTS; CHILDHOOD; ATTENTION; TRAJECTORIES

Abstract

Background: In children with prenatal alcohol exposure, spatial working memory is affected and brain regions important for spatial working memory performance exhibit atypical neurodevelopment. We therefore hypothesized that children with prenatal alcohol exposure may also have atypical development of spatial working memory ability. Methods: We examined the relation between spatial working memory and age using a cross-sectional developmental trajectory approach in youth with and without histories of heavy prenatal alcohol exposure. The Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery Spatial Working Memory subtest was administered to children 5.0 to 16.9 years old. Results: While the controls and children with prenatal alcohol exposure showed similar performance at younger ages, larger group differences were observed in older children. This effect was replicated in a separate sample. Conclusions: The atypical brain development that has previously been reported in children with heavy prenatal alcohol exposure may have clinically relevant implications for cognitive development; however, longitudinal cognitive analyses are needed.