Strategies and biases in location memory in Williams syndrome.
Location memory in Williams syndrome follows unusual bias patterns, so construction tasks need non-spatial supports.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Morris (2008) watched how people with Williams syndrome remember where objects sit on a table. The team compared their location memory to same-age peers without the syndrome.
They used a simple recall task. After a short delay, each person had to point to where items had been. The study looked for unusual bias patterns, not just overall accuracy.
What they found
Adults with Williams syndrome made more errors and showed odd bias patterns. Their mistakes were not random; they clustered in specific directions.
The result says their spatial memory is not just slower. It works in a qualitatively different way. Construction tasks that rely on exact location may trip them up.
How this fits with other research
Lanfranchi et al. (2015) extends this finding into working memory. They showed that spatial-simultaneous tasks hurt Williams syndrome performance, while spatial-sequential tasks did not. Together the papers map a clear split: holding several places 'at once' is hard; keeping them 'in order' is spared.
García-Villamisar et al. (2017) tested whether special spatial frames help drawing accuracy. No benefit appeared for the Williams group. This null result fits Morris (2008): if location memory carries built-in biases, extra framing cues cannot fix the underlying spatial code.
Deruelle et al. (2006) seems to disagree at first glance. They found intact global configural perception in Williams syndrome. The studies differ in timing: Christine tested seeing the whole shape in the moment; K tested remembering exact spots after a delay. Perception can be normal while memory still warps.
Why it matters
When you ask a client with Williams syndrome to copy a block design or set a table, do not assume more practice will iron out small shifts. Expect systematic directional errors and plan extra cues that do not rely on fine spatial recall. Use sequential checklists, verbal labels, or color coding instead of 'look and place' instructions.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
Individuals with Williams syndrome (WS) demonstrate impaired visuo-spatial abilities in comparison to their level of verbal ability. In particular, visuo-spatial construction is an area of relative weakness. It has been hypothesised that poor or atypical location coding abilities contribute strongly to the impaired abilities observed on construction and drawing tasks [Farran, E. K., & Jarrold, C. (2005). Evidence for unusual spatial location coding in Williams syndrome: An explanation for the local bias in visuo-spatial construction tasks? Brain and Cognition, 59, 159-172; Hoffman, J. E., Landau, B., & Pagani, B. (2003). Spatial breakdown in spatial construction: Evidence from eye fixations in children with Williams syndrome. Cognitive Psychology, 46, 260-301]. The current experiment investigated location memory in WS. Specifically, the precision of remembered locations was measured as well as the biases and strategies that were involved in remembering those locations. A developmental trajectory approach was employed; WS performance was assessed relative to the performance of typically developing (TD) children ranging from 4- to 8-year-old. Results showed differential strategy use in the WS and TD groups. WS performance was most similar to the level of a TD 4-year-old and was additionally impaired by the addition of physical category boundaries. Despite their low level of ability, the WS group produced a pattern of biases in performance which pointed towards evidence of a subdivision effect, as observed in TD older children and adults. In contrast, the TD children showed a different pattern of biases, which appears to be explained by a normalisation strategy. In summary, individuals with WS do not process locations in a typical manner. This may have a negative impact on their visuo-spatial construction and drawing abilities.
Research in developmental disabilities, 2008 · doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2007.07.002