Episodic memory takes longer to click.

• Position: Child Development - Brief article

One important part of memory undergoes substantial development even after the age of seven, reports a study in Psychological Science. Researchers found that episodic memory--the ability to remember not only what happened, but where and when--takes longer to develop than often assumed. That means young children may have no problem with remembering certain simple events or facts but, in some cases, they may have difficulty placing them in the right place, time, or context.

The results have widespread implications, including what young children can be expected to learn in school and the reliability of their testimony in court cases.

"It is often assumed that most development in memory occurs by the time children have completed preschool, but we found a lot happens in memory development after seven years of age," explains psychologist Vladimir Sloutsky, coauthor...