Height correlating with cognition: A new study on kids' development

New research shows that kids who are shorter than expected for their age might show reduced cognitive abilities from as early as 6 months of age.

The experiment compared "visual working memory," which is like the brain's ability to hold onto images for thinking, in children with stunted growth and those with typical growth.

Let's find out more.

How it was discovered

The study revealed that infants with poor physical growth experienced disruptions in their visual working memory.

This disruption not only made them more susceptible to distractions but also laid the foundation for lower cognitive abilities one year later.

While previous research had already connected stunted growth with poorer cognitive outcomes in adulthood, this study marks the first instance of such a relationship being observed in infancy.

The research involved brain imaging assessments of over 200 children, representing the inaugural brain imaging study of its kind.

The findings showed that typically-developing infants engaged a brain network associated with working memory, and this brain activity acted as a predictor for their cognitive abilities one year down the line.

Conversely, infants with stunted growth displayed a distinct pattern, indicating that they were more prone to distractions.

Interestingly, some stunted infants performed well in their cognitive tests during the second year, despite their restricted growth.

This was attributed to unexpectedly robust visual memory during the initial months of their development.

It might be important

This experiment shows that addressing working memory and distractibility in young children may help reduce or prevent later cognitive disadvantages.

It underscores the significance of studying brain function in early development.
 

• Related news:
• research
• cognition
• children
• 12 November 2023

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