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How Does Iron Deficiency Affect Infant Memory? A model of brain networks and the physiological effects of iron deficiency
Author(s) -
Hammons Julie,
Wenger Michael,
Robertson Steven,
Haas Jere
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.26.1_supplement.641.18
Subject(s) - cognition , psychology , neuroscience , weaning , iron deficiency , developmental psychology , medicine , psychiatry , endocrinology , anemia
Infants of weaning age (4–7 mo.) have a high risk for iron deficiency (ID). Both human and animal studies suggest that ID causes cognitive—specifically memory—deficits that may persist after iron repletion and into adulthood. Previous reserach in humans is limited by non‐specific measures of cognition, which cannot link ID to decreased memory performance via specific brain abnormalities. To clarify the mechanisms by which ID causes memory deficits, we developed a theoretical model of the neural circuits involved in attention and memory most likely to be affected by ID. Using the model, we predicted the hypothesized electrophysiological output produced by an ID infant brain during a simple memory task. The model predicts the effects of ID on myelination, and neurotransmitter production and availability. We validated the model with data from a study of memory performance and simultaneous brain functioning in ID infants. Data were fit to the model to 1) determine goodness‐of‐fit, with implications for which mechanisms contribute most to memory decrements and 2) improve the model and our ability to predict the effects of ID on infant memory performance and development. Supported by NSF.