AUTHOR=Fuglestad Anita J. , Miller Neely C. , Fink Birgit A. , Boys Christopher J. , Eckerle Judith K. , Georgieff Michael K. , Wozniak Jeffrey R. 

TITLE=Neurophysiological correlates of memory change in children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders treated with choline

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychology

VOLUME=13

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.936019

DOI=10.3389/fpsyg.2022.936019

ISSN=1664-1078

ABSTRACT=<sec><title>Background</title><p>Prenatal and early postnatal choline supplementation reduces cognitive and behavioral deficits in animal models of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). In a previously published 9-month clinical trial of choline supplementation in children with FASD, we reported that postnatal choline was associated with improved performance on a hippocampal-dependent recognition memory task. The current paper describes the neurophysiological correlates of that memory performance for trial completers.</p></sec><sec><title>Methods</title><p>Children with FASD (<italic>N</italic> = 24) who were enrolled in a clinical trial of choline supplementation were followed for 9 months. Delayed recall on a 9-step elicited imitation task (EI) served as the behavioral measure of recognition memory. Neurophysiological correlates of memory were assessed <italic>via</italic> event-related potentials (ERP).</p></sec><sec><title>Results</title><p>Delayed recall on EI was correlated with two ERP components commonly associated with recognition memory in young children: middle latency negative component (Nc amplitude; range: <italic>r</italic> = −0.41 to <italic>r</italic> = −0.44) and positive slow wave (PSW area under the curve; range: <italic>r</italic> = −0.45 to <italic>r</italic> = −0.63). No significant ERP differences were observed between the choline and placebo groups at the conclusion of the trial.</p></sec><sec><title>Conclusion</title><p>Although the small sample size limits the ability to draw clear conclusions about the treatment effect of choline on ERP, the results suggest a relationship between memory performance and underlying neurophysiological status in FASD. This trial was registered.<xref rid="fn0004" ref-type="fn"><sup>1</sup></xref></p></sec>