Inferences about the Functional Development of Neural Systems in Children via the Application of Animal Tests of Cognition

Abstract

The application of animal tests of cognition to children of various ages can provide inferential evidence of the time course of functional maturation of restricted neural substrates. This chapter describes the methods of administering to children various tasks in the Wisconsin General Testing Apparatus, radial-arm maze, and Morris search apparatus. When compared with results from animals, the results from children allow inferences about the functional development of a number of neural systems and structures including orbital prefrontal cortex, entorhinal and perirhinal cortices, hippocampus, and the inferior temporal corticostriatal system.