Working for the future: parentally deprived Nigerian Children have enhanced working memory ability
Duration: 6 mins
Publication Date: 23 Apr 2020
Next Review Date: 24 Apr 2023
DOI: 10.13056/acamh.11856
Description
In this Video Abstract Tochukwu Nweze discusses his paper 'Working for the future: parentally deprived Nigerian Children have enhanced working memory ability'. The dominant view based on the deficit model of developmental psychopathology is that early adverse rearing impairs cognition. In contrast, an emerging evolutionary–developmental model argues that individuals exposed to early‐life stress may have improved cognitive abilities that are adapted to harsh environments. We set out to test this hypothesis by examining cognitive functions in parentally deprived children in Nigeria.
Learning Objectives
1. Understand the enhanced working memory ability of the deprived group as a correlate of its ecological relevance.
2. Recognise in Nigeria, underprivileged children may need to rely to a larger extent on working memory abilities to attain success through academic work.
3. Learn about the results including exposure to early adversity does not necessarily impair cognitive functions but can even enhance it under some conditions and in some domains.
