Verbal Learning and Memory Enhancement Strategies in Schizophrenia: A Randomized, Controlled Investigation

2017 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 352-357 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew M. Kurtz ◽  
Christi L. Trask ◽  
Rachel Rosengard ◽  
Simone Hyman ◽  
Lisa Kremen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Episodic Memory ◽  
Verbal Memory ◽  
Verbal Learning ◽  
Memory Task ◽  
Word List ◽  
Narrative Structure ◽  
Strategy Training ◽  
Word Recall ◽  
Mnemonic Strategy ◽  
Verbal Episodic Memory

AbstractObjectives: Verbal episodic memory is a key domain of impairment in people with schizophrenia with close ties to a variety of aspects of functioning and therapeutic treatment response. A randomized, blinded trial of two mnemonic strategies for verbal episodic memory deficits for people with schizophrenia was conducted. Methods: Sixty-one people with schizophrenia were assigned to one of three experimental conditions: training in a mnemonic strategy that included both visualization and narrative structure (Story Method), a condition in which participants were trained to visualize words interacting with one another (Imagery), or a non-trained control condition in which participants received equivalent exposure to training word lists and other verbal memory assessments administered in the other two conditions, but without provision of any compensatory mnemonic strategy. Participants were assessed on improvements in recall of the word list used as part of training, as well as two, standardized verbal memory assessments which included stimuli not used as part of strategy training. Results: The Story Method produced improvements on a trained word list that generalized to a non-trained, prose memory task at a 1-week follow-up. In contrast, provision of a mnemonic strategy of simple visualization of words produced little improvement on word recall of trained words or on measures of generalization relative to the performance of participants in the control condition. Conclusions: These findings support the inclusion of enriched mnemonic strategies consisting of both visualization and narrative structure in sustained and comprehensive programs of CR for enhancement of verbal episodic memory in schizophrenia. (JINS, 2017, 23, 352–357)

scholarly journals The effects of acute exercise on episodic memory function among young university students: moderation considerations by biological sex

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 99-104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lauren Johnson ◽  
Paul D. Loprinzi
Keyword(s):  
Episodic Memory ◽  
University Students ◽  
Verbal Memory ◽  
Acute Exercise ◽  
Memory Function ◽  
Verbal Learning ◽  
Memory Task ◽  
Moderate Intensity ◽  
Term Memory ◽  
Main Effect

Background: The objective of this study was to evaluate potential sex-specific differences on episodic memory function and determine whether sex moderates the effects of acute exercise on episodic memory.Methods: A randomized controlled intervention was employed. This experiment was conducted among young University students (mean age = 21 years). Both males (n=20) and females (n=20)completed two counterbalanced laboratory visits, with one visit involving a 15-minute bout of moderate-intensity exercise prior to the memory task. The control visit engaged in a time matched seated task. Memory function (including short-term memory, learning, and long-term memory) was assessed from the RAVLT (Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test).Results: We observed a significant main effect for time (P<0.001, ƞ2p= 0.77) and a marginally significant main effect for sex (P=0.06, ƞ2p= 0.09), but no time by sex by condition interaction(P=0.91, ƞ2p= 0.01). We also observed some suggestive evidence of a more beneficial effect of acute exercise on memory for females. Conclusion: In conclusion, females outperformed males in verbal memory function. Additional research is needed to further evaluate whether sex moderates the effects of acute exercise on memory function.

Inflammatory Markers May Inform the Effects of Electroconvulsive Therapy on Cognition in Patients with Depression

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Jan-Baptist Belge ◽  
Linda Van Diermen ◽  
Bernard Sabbe ◽  
Manuel Morrens ◽  
Violette Coppens ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Episodic Memory ◽  
Cognitive Functioning ◽  
Electroconvulsive Therapy ◽  
Inflammatory Markers ◽  
Verbal Learning ◽  
Potential Biomarker ◽  
Tnf Α ◽  
Autobiographic Memory ◽  
Learning Test ◽  
Verbal Episodic Memory

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> The neurobiological mechanisms underlying the acute cognitive effects of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) remain poorly understood. Prior research has shown that proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-6, TNF-α, IL1-β, and IL-10 may interfere with cognitive functioning. Interestingly, immunomodulation is one of the proposed modes of action of ECT. This study investigates whether changes of peripheral levels of IL-6, TNF-α, IL1-β, and IL-10 are related to changes in cognitive functioning following ECT. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> In the week before and 1 week after an acute course of ECT, 62 patients suffering from depression underwent a neuropsychological evaluation to assess their processing speed using the Symbol Digit Substitution Test (SDST), verbal episodic memory using the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised (HVLT-R), and their retrospective autobiographic memory using the Autobiographical Memory Interview (AMI) with the peripheral inflammatory markers being measured at the same 2 time points. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Patients improved drastically following ECT, while their main performance on both the HVLT-R and AMI declined and their SDST scores remained stable. The levels of IL-6 and IL1-β had both decreased, where the decrease in IL-6 was related to the decrease in HVLT-R scores. Higher baseline IL-10 levels were associated with a more limited decrease of the HVLT-R scores. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Our findings tentatively suggest that the effects of ECT on verbal episodic memory may be related to the treatment’s immunomodulatory properties, most notably due to decreased IL-6 levels. Moreover, baseline IL-10 appears to be a potential biomarker to predict the effects of ECT on verbal episodic memory. Whilst compelling, the results of this study should be interpreted with caution as, due to its exploratory nature, no correction for multiple comparisons was made. Further, a replication in larger cohorts is warranted.

scholarly journals Decline in verbal memory during preclinical Alzheimer's disease: Examination of the effect of APOE genotype

2002 ◽  
Vol 8 (7) ◽  
pp. 943-955 ◽  
Author(s):  
KELLY L. LANGE ◽  
MARK W. BONDI ◽  
DAVID P. SALMON ◽  
DOUGLAS GALASKO ◽  
DEAN C. DELIS ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Episodic Memory ◽  
Verbal Memory ◽  
Verbal Learning ◽  
Apoe Genotype ◽  
Apoe Ε4 ◽  
Dementia Syndrome ◽  
Ε4 Allele

A subtle decline in episodic memory often occurs prior to the emergence of the full dementia syndrome in nondemented older adults who develop Alzheimer's disease (AD). The APOE-ε4 genotype may engender a more virulent form of AD that hastens this decline. To examine this possibility, we compared the rate of decline in episodic memory during the preclinical phase of AD in individuals with or without at least one APOE ε4 allele. Nondemented normal control (NC; n = 84) participants, nondemented older adults who subsequently developed dementia within 1 or 2 years (i.e., preclinical AD; n = 20), and patients with mild AD (n = 53) were examined with 2 commonly employed tests of episodic memory, the Logical Memory subtest of the Wechsler Memory Scale–Revised and the California Verbal Learning Test. Results revealed a precipitous decline in verbal memory abilities 1 to 2 years prior to the onset of the dementia syndrome, but there was little effect of APOE genotype on the rate of this memory decline. The presence of an APOE-ε4 allele, however, did have a differential effect on the sensitivity of the 2 types of memory tests for tracking progression and made an independent contribution to the prediction of conversion to AD. (JINS, 2002, 8, 943–955.)

scholarly journals B-14 Differences in Performance of Memory Tasks in HIV + Cocaine and Methamphetamine Users

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (6) ◽  
pp. 958-958
Author(s):  
N Nemanim ◽  
C Hinkin ◽  
E Singer
Keyword(s):  
Verbal Memory ◽  
Visual Memory ◽  
Verbal Learning ◽  
Memory Task ◽  
Verbal Working Memory ◽  
Or Education ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Cocaine Use ◽  
Cocaine Users ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Objective Approximately 1.2 million people in the U.S. are infected with HIV (HIV+), many of whom use stimulants. Recent meta-analytical work supports differing neurocognitive profiles associated with methamphetamine and cocaine use in seronegative individuals, especially in the domain of memory. Both substances are associated with deficits in verbal working memory, while only methamphetamine is associated with deficits in delayed contextual verbal memory and delayed visual memory. This study serves to replicate these findings amongst an HIV+ sample. Methods The performance of 88 HIV+ cocaine users and 49 HIV+ methamphetamine users were compared on the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test–Revised and Brief Visuospatial Memory Test–Revised. Participants were actively enrolled in National Neurological AIDS Bank and over the age of 18. Chi-square and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) were used to compare group equivalence. Groups differed on gender and race but not on age, virologic variables, or education. ANOVA and Independent T-tests were used to compare performance. Results Both groups exhibited deficits on visual, verbal, and delayed verbal memory tasks but differences between the two groups were not significant (p>.05). Methamphetamine users performed significantly worse than cocaine users on the delayed visual memory task (F (1,131) = 9.27, p = .003, η² = .066). Conclusions Consistent with findings in seronegative individuals, HIV+ methamphetamine users performed more poorly than cocaine users on tasks involving delayed visual memory. However, this study did not replicate findings involving delayed verbal memory. Further work is necessary to understand the impact of methamphetamine and cocaine use in HIV+ individuals.

scholarly journals Extradural Motor Cortex Stimulation might improve episodic and working memory in patients with Parkinson’s disease

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Carla Piano ◽  
Marco Ciavarro ◽  
Francesco Bove ◽  
Daniela Di Giuda ◽  
Fabrizio Cocciolillo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Parkinson’S Disease ◽  
Working Memory ◽  
Parkinson's Disease ◽  
Motor Cortex ◽  
Episodic Memory ◽  
Memory Task ◽  
Motor Symptoms ◽  
Motor Cortex Stimulation ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Verbal Episodic Memory

Abstract Electric Extradural Motor Cortex Stimulation (EMCS) is a neurosurgical procedure suggested for treatment of patients with advanced Parkinson’s disease (PD). We report two PD patients treated by EMCS, who experienced worsening of motor symptoms and cognition 5 years after surgery, when EMCS batteries became discharged. One month after EMCS restoration, they experienced a subjective improvement of motor symptoms and cognition. Neuropsychological assessments were carried out before replacement of batteries (off-EMCS condition) and 6 months afterward (on-EMCS condition). As compared to off-EMCS condition, in on-EMCS condition both patients showed an improvement on tasks of verbal episodic memory and backward spatial short-term/working memory task, and a decline on tasks of selective visual attention and forward spatial short-term memory. These findings suggest that in PD patients EMCS may induce slight beneficial effects on motor symptoms and cognitive processes involved in verbal episodic memory and in active manipulation of information stored in working memory.

Spatial Visualization Ability Mediates the Male Advantage in Spatial and Visual Episodic Memory

2016 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 194-200 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen L. Siedlecki
Keyword(s):  
Episodic Memory ◽  
Verbal Memory ◽  
Visual Memory ◽  
Memory Performance ◽  
Spatial Visualization ◽  
Mediation Analyses ◽  
Female Advantage ◽  
Male Advantage ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Verbal Episodic Memory

Abstract. Individuals between the ages of 18 and 94 (N = 326) completed a battery of episodic memory tasks, as well as several measures of spatial visualization. A female advantage in verbal episodic memory and a male advantage in spatial and visual episodic memory were observed. Mediation analyses provided evidence that performance on spatial visualization tasks greatly influences the magnitude of the effect for sex differences among the different episodic memory constructs. In particular, the spatial visualization construct fully mediated the relationship between sex and episodic spatial memory performance. Further, when spatial visualization was included as a mediator in the model the relationship between sex and episodic verbal memory increased, and the relationship between sex and episodic visual memory reversed, such that women scored higher than men.

scholarly journals Verbal Episodic Memory and Endogenous Estradiol: An Association in Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer's Disease

2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. M. Bittner ◽  
V. Bittner ◽  
M. W. Riepe
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Episodic Memory ◽  
Verbal Memory ◽  
Delayed Recall ◽  
Apoe Phenotype ◽  
Normal Controls ◽  
Verbal Episodic Memory

In the continuum of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and normal controls, a possible association of verbal memory and endogenous estradiol (E2) levels was investigated. Verbal episodic memory was measured with a german version of the California verbal memory test (CVLT). Results were controlled for apolipoprotein E (ApoE) phenotype. We studied 37 controls, 32 MCIs and 117 ADs. Groups differed in all trials of the CVLT and in E2levels . E2 levels differed significantly between groups only among females . In females correcting for age and ApoE, there was an overall correlation between CVLT delayed recall and level of E2  . Stepwise regression analyses found E2level to be a significant predictor for CVLT delayed recall . It may be concluded that lower E2levels occur more in the course of the disease than may be considered as a risk factor per se.

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