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Size does matter in the long run

Hippocampal and cortical volume predict recall across weeks

From the Department of Psychology (Dr. Reinvang, K.B. Walhovd and A.M. Fjell), University of Oslo, Norway; Department of Neuropsychology (K.B. Walhovd and A.M. Fjell), Ullevaal University Hospital, Norway; Department of Psychosomatic Medicine (Dr. Reinvang), Rikshospitalet University Hospital, Oslo; Department of Physiology and Locus on Neuroscience (Dr. Lundervold), University of Bergen, Norway; MGH-NMR Center (Drs. Fischl and Dale, B.T. Quinn), Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard University, Boston, MA; and MR Center, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) (Dr. Dale), Trondheim, Norway.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Kristine B. Walhovd, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1094, Blindern, 0317 Oslo, Norway; e-mail: kristine{at}walhovd.com

Objective: To study the morphometric determinants of recall of verbal material for an extended period in an adult lifespan sample.

Methods: Healthy adults of varying ages were studied using automated segmentation of MRI scans with volumes of hippocampus, cortex, and white matter, and verbal memory tests assessing recall after 5 minutes, 30 minutes, and a mean period of 11 weeks. Stepwise regression analyses were performed with 5 minutes, 30 minutes, and 11-week recall as the dependent variables. Hippocampal, cortical, and white matter volumes were included in the initial set of predictor variables in each case, and the analyses were repeated with age as an additional predictor variable.

Results: When age was not included, cortical volume was the only variable predicting recall after 5 and 30 minutes, whereas hippocampal and cortical volumes predicted recall after 11 weeks. When age was included in the model, this was the only variable predicting recall after 5 and 30 minutes, whereas age and hippocampus gave contributions in prediction of recall after several weeks.

Conclusion: This study supports a critical role of cortical and hippocampal size in recall. Hippocampal size seems more important in recall after 11 weeks than after a shorter time interval.

Received November 19, 2003. Accepted in final form June 3, 2004.

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