Development of verbal selective learning.

Using incentive-based auditory word recall we studied the efficiency of selective learning in children ages 6-18 years. We found effects of age for both selective learning efficiency and for total words recalled, which differed in developmental trajectory. The number of words recalled showed a nonlinear component, reflecting a negatively accelerated increase with age. In contrast, the measure of selective learning was linear with age. Overall, selective learning efficiency was not related to the total number of words recalled. The findings provide a framework for interpretation of studies of selective learning in clinical populations.