[Development of long term memory in the child]. / Développement de la mémoire à long terme chez l'enfant.

The relatively recent development of research on memory has considerably improved knowledge on the subject. The cognitive approach allowed to consider memory as a multiform phenomenon, implicating separate processes and based on independent systems. Memory presently appears as an active process, beginning to get organized as soon as the first interactions between child and environment. Recent research data show that infants memory seems to present specific characteristics, different from those of older subjects. This is a further argument to the theory of independent mnemonic systems, growing at different periods of development.

Arthrogryposis, ectodermal dysplasia and other anomalies in two sisters.

Ectodermal dysplasia with arthrogryposis is an uncommon condition. We describe two daughters of a distant consanguineous couple with oligodentia, enamel abnormalities, camptodactyly, longitudinally broken nails, growth retardation, joint contractures with amyotrophy, hypohidrotic skin with tendency to excessive bruising and scarring after injuries and scratching, kypho-scoliosis, mild facial dysmorphia and microcephaly. The condition is probably due to an autosomal recessive gene, the parents being gypsies of the same ancestral origin.

Tau syndrome (thrombocytopenia and absent ulnar) with mental retardation and facial dysmorphy.

A girl with pancytopenia (hemoglobin 9 g. 2,000 PMN. 75,000 platelets) was examined at 23 years of age. She had microcephaly, facial dysmorphy, skeletal deformities (kypho-scoliosis, club feet, club hands) and mental retardation. Puberty was normal, Roentgenograms showed bilateral agenesia of the distal part of the ulna with dislocation of the head of the radius. No other skeletal parts were absent. The condition is probably due to an autosomal recessive gene, the parents being second cousins.