Developmental Characteristics of Sleep-related Consolidation of Learning

Holton, R., Callaghan, F.O., Leipold, A., Hiles, A., Zuberi, S., Dorris, L. and Wright, I. (2014) Developmental Characteristics of Sleep-related Consolidation of Learning. 4th UK Paediatric Neuropsychology Symposium: Atypical Developmental Pathways, London, UK, 19-23 May 2014. pp. 7-23. (doi: 10.1111/dmcn.12460)

Abstract

Background: There is growing support for the role of sleep in the facilitation of learning and memory consolidation in chil- dren and adolescents. REM and non-REM sleep are believed to play distinct roles in supporting memory consolidation in procedural and declarative tasks. Sleep disturbance is common in many childhood neurological conditions such as rolandic epilepsy. Sleep disturbance may lead to characteristic learning deficits in these populations and should therefore be monitored with appropriate tasks specifically designed for the child population. The study reports novel consolidation of learning (CoL) tasks, adapted from adult tasks to investigate consolidation of procedural and declarative learning in children. The study aims to quantify the role of sleep in the consolidation of learning within typically developing children. It is hypothes ised that sleep promotes improvement of declarative and pro cedural learning performance within typically developing children. Methods: A paediatric sample of 69 participants (41 female and 28 male) took part in the study (mean age: 10.7y). Tasks were specifically adapted for assessment CoL within children (Pro cedural learning: fingertip tapping, pursuit rotor movement and Declarative Learning: story recall) Results: T-tests demonstrated significant sleep related consoli dation for both procedural and declarative tasks with effect sizes ranging from 0.2 to 0.6 and statistically significant con solidation effects for all tasks. Discussion: Analysis of evening versus morning performance suggests a consolidation of learning process in typically devel oping children for both declarative and procedural memory tasks. The tasks developed and associated normative data sup port the clinical utility of this methodology in neurological populations.

• Item Type: Conference or Workshop Item
• Additional Information: Abstract published in Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology 56(S3):13-14.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Zuberi, Dr Sameer and Dorris, Professor Liam
• Authors: Holton, R., Callaghan, F.O., Leipold, A., Hiles, A., Zuberi, S., Dorris, L., and Wright, I.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Mental Health and Wellbeing; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing
• Journal Name: Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology
• ISSN: 0012-1622