Proactive and retroactive interference in young adults, healthy older adults, and older adults with amnestic mild cognitive impairment

2009 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 83-93 ◽  
Author(s):  
PATRICIA L. EBERT ◽  
NICOLE D. ANDERSON
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Retroactive Interference ◽  
Memory Performance ◽  
Verbal Learning ◽  
Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Healthy Older Adults ◽  
Memory Interference

AbstractThis study investigated memory interference in amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) and normal aging. Participants were 27 young adults, 44 healthy older adults, and 15 older adults with aMCI. Memory interference was examined on the California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT) and on a modified AB-AC paradigm. Despite significant differences in memory performance on the CVLT, interference measures on this test did not distinguish individuals with aMCI and healthy older adults. The AB-AC task involved first learning a list (AB list) of 12 semantically related word pairs (e.g., knee-bone). Twenty minutes later, a second list (AC list) was learned in which the same stimulus words were paired with new response words (e.g., knee-bend). Both lists were repeated until 100% accurate recall was achieved. Finally, participants recalled the first (AB) list. Proactive interference (PI) was greater among older than younger adults, and greater still among individuals with aMCI, but the older and aMCI groups showed similar levels of retroactive interference. This study suggests that PI contributes to the memory deficits seen in aMCI and that tests sensitive to PI may assist in the early identification of aMCI. Memory interventions aimed at alleviating PI may improve memory functioning in individuals with aMCI. (JINS, 2009, 15, 83–93.)

Errorless learning and elaborative self-generation in healthy older adults and individuals with amnestic mild cognitive impairment: Mnemonic benefits and mechanisms

2009 ◽  
Vol 15 (5) ◽  
pp. 704-716 ◽  
Author(s):  
TOBI LUBINSKY ◽  
JILL B. RICH ◽  
NICOLE D. ANDERSON
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Memory Performance ◽  
Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Cued Recall ◽  
Errorless Learning ◽  
Healthy Older Adults ◽  
Elaborative Processing ◽  
Amci Group

AbstractErrorless learning is an intervention that benefits memory performance in healthy older adults and a variety of clinical populations. A limitation of the errorless learning technique is that it is passive and does not involve elaborative processing. We report two studies investigating the added benefits of elaborative, self-generated learning to the errorless learning advantage. We also explored the mnemonic mechanisms of the errorless learning advantage. In both studies, older adults and individuals with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) completed four encoding conditions representing the crossing of errorless/errorful learning and self-generated/experimenter-provided learning. Self-generation enhanced the errorless learning benefit in cued recall and cued recognition, but not in free recall or item recognition. An errorless learning advantage was observed for priming of target words, and this effect was amplified for participants with aMCI after self-generated learning. Moreover, the aMCI group showed significant priming of prior self-generated errors. These results demonstrate that self-generation enhances the errorless learning advantage when study and test conditions match. The data also support the argument that errorless learning eliminates the misleading implicit influence of prior errors, as well as the need for explicit memory processes to distinguish targets from errors. (JINS, 2009, 15, 704–716.)

Effects of the Duration of a Resting-State EEG Recording in Healthy Aging and Mild Cognitive Impairment

2020 ◽  
pp. 155005942098362
Author(s):  
Farooq Kamal ◽  
Kenneth Campbell ◽  
Vanessa Taler
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Power Density ◽  
Resting State ◽  
Verbal Learning ◽  
Frequency Resolution ◽  
Healthy Older Adults ◽  
Theta Power ◽  
Global Cognition

Introduction The recording of resting-state EEG may provide a means to predict early cognitive decline associated with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Previous studies have typically used very short recording times to avoid a confound with drowsiness that may occur in longer recordings. The effects of a longer recording have not however been systematically examined. Methods Eyes-closed resting-state EEG activity was recorded in 40 older adult participants (20 healthy older adults and 20 people with MCI). The recording period was a relatively long 6 minutes, divided into two equal 3-minute halves to determine if drowsiness will be more apparent as the recording progresses. The participants also completed standardized neuropsychological tasks that assessed global cognition (Montreal Cognitive Assessment) and memory (California Verbal Learning Test, Second Edition). A spectral analysis was performed on both short (2 seconds) and long (8 seconds) segments in both 3-minute halves. Results No differences in power density for any of the EEG frequency bands were found between the 2 halves of the study for either group. There was little evidence of increased drowsiness in the second half of the study even when frequency resolution was increased with the 8-second segmentation. Theta power density was overall larger for people with MCI compared to healthy older adults. A negative correlation was also observed between theta power and global cognition in healthy older adults. Conclusions The present results indicate that longer resting-state EEG recording can be reliably employed without increased risk of drowsiness.

Phasic alerting increases visual processing speed in amnestic mild cognitive impairment

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marleen Haupt ◽  
Steffen Jödecke ◽  
Annie Srowig ◽  
Natan Napiórkowski ◽  
Christoph Preul ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Processing Speed ◽  
Visual Processing ◽  
Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Temporary Increase ◽  
Healthy Older Adults ◽  
Visual Processing Speed ◽  
Phasic Alerting

External warning cues temporarily increase the brain's sensitivity for upcoming events. Such increased levels of phasic alertness help individuals to flexibly adapt their reactions to the fast-changing requirements of highly complex visual environments. Previous studies reported that both healthy younger and older adults profit from phasic alerting cues. Arguably, such an intact phasic alerting mechanism could be even more relevant in pathologically aging individuals who are characterized by pronounced reductions of general processing capacity. The present study employed a theory of visual attention based whole report paradigm with auditory cues in order to investigate phasic alerting effects in amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) on a purely perceptual level. In addition, aMCI patients were compared to a previously reported sample of healthy older adults. The analysis in aMCI patients indicated that their visual processing speed was significantly higher in the cue compared to the no-cue condition. Across groups, auditory alerting cues significantly increased visual processing speed. Further, visual processing speed was reduced in aMCI patients compared to healthy older adults, replicating prior findings. Taken together, the results suggest that the processing system of aMCI patients exhibits general declines but can still flexibly integrate auditory warning signals. Phasic alerting cues facilitate a temporary increase in processing speed, enabling an efficient handling of upcoming sensory information.

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