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Memory abilities in Williams syndrome: Dissociation or developmental delay hypothesis?

2007; Elsevier BV; Volume: 66; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/j.bandc.2007.09.005

1090-2147

Adriana Sampaio, Nuno Sousa, Montserrat Fernández Prieto, Margarida Henriques, Óscar F. Gonçalves,

Williams Syndrome Research

Williams syndrome (WS) is a neurodevelopmental genetic disorder often described as being characterized by a dissociative cognitive architecture, in which profound impairments of visuo-spatial cognition contrast with relative preservation of linguistic, face recognition and auditory short-memory abilities. This asymmetric and dissociative cognition has been also proposed to characterize WS memory ability, with sparing of auditory short-term memory and impairment of spatial and long-term memory abilities. In this study, we explored the possibility of a double memory dissociation in WS (short- versus long-term memory; verbal versus visual memory). Thus, verbal memory abilities were assessed using California Verbal Learning Test and Digit Span and Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure and Corsi Blocks was used to assess visual–spatial memory abilities. Overall, WS subjects were found to present a generalized significant impairment in verbal and visuo-spatial components either in short- or long-term memory. In sum, data from this study brings support for a developmental delay hypothesis, rather than a double dissociation within memory systems in WS.