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Meta-Analysis
. 2022 May;32(5):386-400.
doi: 10.1002/hipo.23414. Epub 2022 Mar 17.

A meta-analysis of the relation between hippocampal volume and memory ability in typically developing children and adolescents

Morgan Botdorf  1 , Kelsey L Canada  2 , Tracy Riggins  1
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

A meta-analysis of the relation between hippocampal volume and memory ability in typically developing children and adolescents

Morgan Botdorf et al. Hippocampus. 2022 May.

Abstract

Memory is supported by a network of brain regions, with the hippocampus serving a critical role in this cognitive process. Previous meta-analyses on the association between hippocampal structure and memory have largely focused on adults. Multiple studies have since suggested that hippocampal volume is related to memory performance in children and adolescents; however, the strength and direction of this relation varies across reports, and thus, remains unclear. To further understand this brain-behavior relation, we conducted a meta-analysis to investigate the association between hippocampal volume (assessed as total volume) and memory during typical development. Across 25 studies and 61 memory outcomes with 1357 participants, results showed a small, but significant, positive association between total hippocampal volume and memory performance. Estimates of the variability across studies in the relation between total volume and memory were not explained by differences in memory task type (delayed vs. immediate; relational vs. nonrelational), participant age range, or the method of normalization of hippocampal volumes. Overall, findings suggest that larger total hippocampal volume relates to better memory performance in children and adolescents and that this relation is similar across the memory types and age ranges assessed. To facilitate enhanced generalization across studies in the future, we discuss considerations for the field moving forward.

Keywords: adolescent; child; hippocampus; memory; meta-analysis.

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Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Forest plot showing the correlation coefficient and the small sample weighting correction for each study included in the meta‐analysis assessing total hippocampal volume and memory with a 95% confidence interval. Size of square for each study indicates sample size weighted by the number of measurements included in the meta‐analysis
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Funnel plots used to assess publication bias for studies included in meta‐analysis on total hippocampal volume and memory before (left panel) and after trim and fill analysis (right panel). Filled points represent studies included in the meta‐analysis. Unfilled points represent “missing” studies imputed from the trim and fill analysis
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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