Neural Correlates of Rote Memory: Auditory Interference and Working Memory Capacity Effect Quranic Recall in Children and Young Adults Using Electroencephalography

The study in question investigated the neural activation patterns in children and young adults who have previously memorized text from the holy Quran of the Islamic religion. The Quran Recognition Task (QRT) was developed to test long term memory recall and working memory capacity during electroencephalography (EEG) recording. The study examined the effect of auditory interference as a means of distraction. 16 subjects (Aged 8-27 years) participated in the study. Significant differences in brain activation patterns and in the appearance of select event related potentials were observed across distraction conditions and between groups. Children exhibited more global activation, showing their need for more neural resources and working memory capacity to successfully complete the task while the brain activation patterns for adults depicted decreased amplitudes in the waveforms overall. This study suggests developmental differences in the cognitive and neural approaches in retaining and recalling rote memory.