Time-based prospective memory in children and adolescents with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome

Objective: 22q11.2 deletion syndrome, also known as velo-cardio-facial syndrome (VCFS) is a genetic disorder caused by a microdeletion on chromosome 22q11.2 and characterized by marked impairment in visual attention and executive function. The present study examined if this cognitive deficit extends to prospective memory (the type of memory involved in remembering to perform actions in the future).

Method: 20 participants with 22q11.2DS aged between 6 and 14 were included in the study as well as 22 typically developing individuals (TDC) aged 6 to 12. To measure prospective memory, participants were asked to play a driving game (the Dresden Cruiser, Voigt et al., 2014). This time-based prospective memory task required children to remember to refuel their car when the fuel level was low by pressing a refuel button while driving.

Results and Discussion: Participants with 22q11.2DS remembered less often to refuel the car. Furthermore, participants with 22q11.2DS checked the fuel gauge significantly less often than the controls.

Conclusions: Participants with 22q11.2DS therefore demonstrate difficulties completing a time-based prospective memory task. This can be explained by a generally less frequent time checking behaviour in comparison to TDC.