TY - JOUR
T1 - Spatial competences in Williams syndrome
T2 - a radial arm maze study
AU - Mandolesi, L.
AU - Addona, F.
AU - Foti, F.
AU - Menghini, D.
AU - Petrosini, L.
AU - Vicari, S.
PY - 2009/5
Y1 - 2009/5
N2 - This study was aimed at evaluating spatial function in subjects with Williams syndrome by using the radial arm maze task and comparing their spatial abilities with those of mental age-matched control subjects. Two different paradigms were administered: the free-choice version for analyzing the aspects linked mainly to procedural and mnesic components, the forced-choice version for disentangling components linked to spatial working memory from the procedural ones. The findings evidenced a deficit in the acquisition of procedural competences as well as in the spatial memory processes in Williams subjects. In the free-choice paradigm, they performed worse than control subjects on all parameters analyzed. Namely, they needed more time to complete the task, did not collect all rewards, exhibited low values of the spatial span as well as low percentages of correct visits, and displayed a reduced use of the most efficient exploration strategies. Even in the forced-choice paradigm, Williams subjects made a number of errors significantly higher than control subjects. The marked impairment in spatial information processing is discussed on the light of neuro-anatomical alterations reported in Williams subjects.
AB - This study was aimed at evaluating spatial function in subjects with Williams syndrome by using the radial arm maze task and comparing their spatial abilities with those of mental age-matched control subjects. Two different paradigms were administered: the free-choice version for analyzing the aspects linked mainly to procedural and mnesic components, the forced-choice version for disentangling components linked to spatial working memory from the procedural ones. The findings evidenced a deficit in the acquisition of procedural competences as well as in the spatial memory processes in Williams subjects. In the free-choice paradigm, they performed worse than control subjects on all parameters analyzed. Namely, they needed more time to complete the task, did not collect all rewards, exhibited low values of the spatial span as well as low percentages of correct visits, and displayed a reduced use of the most efficient exploration strategies. Even in the forced-choice paradigm, Williams subjects made a number of errors significantly higher than control subjects. The marked impairment in spatial information processing is discussed on the light of neuro-anatomical alterations reported in Williams subjects.
KW - Cognitive behavior
KW - Exploration strategies
KW - Genetic syndromes
KW - Spatial memory
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=60949088899&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=60949088899&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.ijdevneu.2009.01.004
DO - 10.1016/j.ijdevneu.2009.01.004
M3 - Article
C2 - 19429385
AN - SCOPUS:60949088899
VL - 27
SP - 205
EP - 213
JO - International Journal of Developmental Neuroscience
JF - International Journal of Developmental Neuroscience
SN - 0736-5748
IS - 3
ER -