Associative Imagery as a Strategy to Improve Destination Memory in Younger and Older Adults

Abstract Destination memory errors (inability to remember to whom information was shared) affects all ages, but older adults are particularly vulnerable due to poor source monitoring. Individuals may assume information was already shared when it was not or repeat previously shared information. The current study explored two mental imagery strategies (vivid imagery, visualizing context) to improve destination memory. Using a software program, younger and older adults told randomly generated facts to random celebrity faces. Participants were unaware of the upcoming memory tests. The control group did not use a strategy. The imagery group used vivid imagery to connect the fact and face (e.g., visualize Oprah on a dime to remember Oprah was told that dimes have 118 ridges). The context group visualized a provided context (e.g., grocery store) when telling a fact to a face. Assessments of performance on item memory (facts, faces) as well as destination memory (face-fact pairings) were counterbalanced. Results indicated an associative memory deficit among older adults, which was driven by a higher rate of false alarms. However, across all adults, the vivid imagery condition was more accurate than the control condition, and they demonstrated fewer false alarms. These findings suggest that older adults can use mental imagery to reduce false alarms and improve destination memory performance. Implications include reducing age stereotypes, improving conversations, and decreasing potentially dangerous situations (e.g., withholding important health information thinking it already was shared with a doctor).

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Physical Activity Improves Verbal and Spatial Memory in Older Adults with Probable Mild Cognitive Impairment: A 6-Month Randomized Controlled Trial

Journal of Aging Research ◽

10.1155/2013/861893 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 2013 ◽

pp. 1-10 ◽

Cited By ~ 97

Author(s):

Lindsay S. Nagamatsu ◽

Alison Chan ◽

Jennifer C. Davis ◽

B. Lynn Beattie ◽

Peter Graf ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Randomized Controlled Trial ◽

Spatial Memory ◽

Aerobic Training ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Memory Performance ◽

Verbal Learning ◽

Training Group ◽

Control Group ◽

Randomized Controlled

We report secondary findings from a randomized controlled trial on the effects of exercise on memory in older adults with probable MCI. We randomized 86 women aged 70–80 years with subjective memory complaints into one of three groups: resistance training, aerobic training, or balance and tone (control). All participants exercised twice per week for six months. We measured verbal memory and learning using the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT) and spatial memory using a computerized test, before and after trial completion. We found that the aerobic training group remembered significantly more items in the loss after interference condition of the RAVLT compared with the control group after six months of training. In addition, both experimental groups showed improved spatial memory performance in the most difficult condition where they were required to memorize the spatial location of three items, compared with the control group. Lastly, we found a significant correlation between spatial memory performance and overall physical capacity after intervention in the aerobic training group. Taken together, our results provide support for the prevailing notion that exercise can positively impact cognitive functioning and may represent an effective strategy to improve memory in those who have begun to experience cognitive decline.

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Only social feedback reduces age-related prospective memory deficits in “Virtual Week”

International Psychogeriatrics ◽

10.1017/s1041610214000027 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 26 (5) ◽

pp. 759-767 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Agnieszka Niedźwieńska ◽

Peter G. Rendell ◽

Krystian Barzykowski ◽

Alicja Leszczyńska

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Prospective Memory ◽

Independent Living ◽

Memory Performance ◽

The Elderly ◽

Control Group ◽

Social Feedback ◽

Feedback Group ◽

Age Related ◽

Memory For Intentions

ABSTRACTBackground:Prospective memory, or remembering to do things in the future, is crucial for independent living in old age. Although there is evidence of substantial age-related deficits in memory for intentions, older adults have demonstrated the ability to compensate for their deficits in everyday life. The present study investigated feedback as a strategy for facilitating prospective memory in the elderly.Method:Young and older adults played a computer-based task, Virtual Week, in which they had to remember to carry out life-like intentions. After each virtual day, specific feedback on prospective memory performance was automatically provided on the computer screen that participants either proceeded through by themselves (non-social feedback) or were taken through by an experimenter (social feedback). The control group received no feedback.Results:We found that, compared with no-feedback group, only social feedback substantially reduced the age-related deficit in prospective memory. Older adults significantly benefited from feedback provided by the experimenter on the tasks of intermediate difficulty. Unexpectedly, prospective memory with non-social feedback was not only worse than with social feedback, but it was not any better than without any feedback at all.Conclusions:The results extended previous findings on the effectiveness of feedback in improving the memory performance of older adults to include memory for intentions. Despite the feedback meeting the critical recommendations of being specific, objective, and well-targeted, it was ineffective when the feedback displayed on the computer was not introduced by the experimenter. This has implications for computerized training tasks where automated feedback is considered crucial.

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The Detrimental Impacts of Negative Age Stereotype on Episodic Memory of Older Adults: Does Social Participation Moderate the Effects?

10.21203/rs.2.20840/v2 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Stephen Cheong Yu Chan ◽

Alma May Lan Au ◽

Simon Man Kin Lai

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Episodic Memory ◽

Social Participation ◽

Protective Factor ◽

Memory Performance ◽

Recognition Task ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Control Group ◽

Age Stereotypes ◽

Priming Task

Abstract Background: Memory performance among older adults can be influenced by negative age stereotypes. However, it is not clear if this effect influence episodic memory in an Asian sample. Furthermore, social participation has emerged as a potential protective factor for memory function as older adults could maintain or enrich cognitive functions when they are exposed to cognitively demanding environment. The purpose of the study was to examine the effects of negative age stereotype primes on episodic memory and the moderating role of social participation on the priming effect.Methods: A total of 105 community-dwelling older adults residing in Hong Kong were randomly allocated to two experimental conditions. Participants were primed either with negative age stereotype words (n = 53) or neutral words (n = 52) by an implicit priming task. Episodic memory performance including total learning, two delayed recalls and a recognition task was investigated after the priming task. Analysis of Co-variance (ANCOVA) was used to test group differences in priming task and memory performance while a series of moderation analyses was performed to examine if social participation could moderate the priming effect.Results: Results indicated that experimental group performed significantly worse than the control group among all measures in the memory performances. Follow-up analyses showed that socially active individuals might be less prone to the effects of negative age stereotypes in the recognition task.Conclusions: Using a simple scale to measure social participation, we found that older adults who are more socially active might be more immune to the effects of negative age stereotype primes on episodic memory. These results provide initial support for social participation might act as an effective strategy against negative age stereotypes. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04202120 (first posted December 17, 2019), (Retrospectively registered)

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Effects of cognitive training based on metamemory and mental images

Dementia & Neuropsychologia ◽

10.1590/s1980-57642010dn40200007 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 4 (2) ◽

pp. 114-119 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Thaís Bento Lima-Silva ◽

Tiago Nascimento Ordonez ◽

Glenda Dias dos Santos ◽

Aline Teixeira Fabrício ◽

Flávia Ogava Aramaki ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Cognitive Training ◽

Self Efficacy ◽

Memory Performance ◽

Geriatric Depression Scale ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Training Group ◽

Control Group ◽

Cognitive Screening ◽

Mental Images

Abstract There is scant research evidence regarding training effects among elderly with limited educational experience. Research indicating an association between metamemory and memory performance is based on samples of older adults with at least 12 years of education. Objectives: To test the efficacy of a cognitive training program based on the creation of mental images and changes in specific aspects of metamemory in individuals with 3 to 15 years of education (M=8.38, SD=4.24). Methods: 37 older adults participated in five training sessions (Training Group (TG)) and 32 control subjects completed only pre and post test assessments (Control Group (CG)) including the Mini Mental Status Examination (MMSE), the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), the Brief Cognitive Screening Battery (BCSB) (naming and memorization of 10 pictures, animal category verbal fluency test, the Clock Drawing Test (CDT)), the Story subtest from the Rivermead Behavioural Memory Test (RBMT), the Memory Complaint Questionnaire (MAC-Q), and the Picture and Story domains from the Memory Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (MSEQ). Results: The TG showed significant improvement between pre and post tests on the delayed recall of the 10 pictures and in self-efficacy for the memorization of stories. These same changes were not found in the CG . Conclusions: Five-session cognitive training may lead to significant improvements in episodic memory and memory self-efficacy, an aspect of metamemory, in individuals with an average of 8 years of education.

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Hippocampal Functional Connectivity and Memory Performance After Exercise Intervention in Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment

Journal of Alzheimer s Disease ◽

10.3233/jad-210051 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-17

Author(s):

Junyeon Won ◽

Daniel D. Callow ◽

Gabriel S. Pena ◽

Leslie S. Jordan ◽

Naomi A. Arnold-Nedimala ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽

Functional Connectivity ◽

Memory Performance ◽

Verbal Learning ◽

Memory Task ◽

Control Group ◽

Age Related ◽

Lm Test

Background: Exercise training (ET) has neuroprotective effects in the hippocampus, a key brain region for memory that is vulnerable to age-related dysfunction. Objective: We investigated the effects of ET on functional connectivity (FC) of the hippocampus in older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and a cognitively normal (CN) control group. We also assessed whether the ET-induced changes in hippocampal FC (Δhippocampal-FC) are associated with changes in memory task performance (Δmemory performance). Methods: 32 older adults (77.0±7.6 years; 16 MCI and 16 CN) participated in the present study. Cardiorespiratory fitness tests, memory tasks (Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT) and Logical Memory Test (LM)), and resting-state fMRI were administered before and after a 12-week walking ET intervention. We utilized a seed-based correlation analysis using the bilateral anterior and posterior hippocampi as priori seed regions of interest. The associations of residualized ET-induced Δhippocampal-FC and Δmemory performance were assessed using linear regression. Results: There were significant improvements in RAVLT Trial 1 and LM test performance after ET across participants. At baseline, MCI, compared to CN, demonstrated significantly lower posterior hippocampal FC. ET was associated with increased hippocampal FC across groups. Greater ET-related anterior and posterior hippocampal FC with right posterior cingulate were associated with improved LM recognition performance in MCI participants. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that hippocampal FC is significantly increased following 12-weeks of ET in older adults and, moreover, suggest that increased hippocampal FC may reflect neural network plasticity associated with ET-related improvements in memory performance in individuals diagnosed with MCI.

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The Impact of Naturalistic Age Stereotype Activation

Frontiers in Psychology ◽

10.3389/fpsyg.2021.685448 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Carla M. Strickland-Hughes ◽

Robin L. West

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Episodic Memory ◽

Stereotype Threat ◽

Recall Performance ◽

Memory Performance ◽

Control Group ◽

Middle Aged ◽

Story Recall ◽

Negative Stereotypes ◽

The Impact

Almost self-fulfilling, commonly held negative stereotypes about old age and memory can impair older adults’ episodic memory performance, due to age-based stereotype threat or self-stereotyping effects. Research studies demonstrating detrimental impacts of age stereotypes on memory performance are generally conducted in research laboratories or medical settings, which often underestimate memory abilities of older adults. To better understand the “real world” impact of negative age and memory stereotypes on episodic memory, the present research tested story recall performance of late middle-aged and older adults (N = 51) following a naturalistic age stereotype manipulation, wherein every day, newspaper-style materials (comics and puzzles) were either embedded with negative age and memory stereotype stimuli (stereotype group) or neutral stimuli (control group). Furthermore, all participants were tested in favorable, familiar environments. Potential moderators of the stereotype effects, e.g., metamemory beliefs, were assessed at baseline. Current memory evaluation and subjective age, as well as perceived stereotype threat and task-related anxiety, were assessed following the stereotype manipulation as potential mechanisms of the expected stereotype effects. Results suggested a contrast effect, as the stereotype group demonstrated superior story recall performance compared to the control group. Marginally significant moderation effects by age and perceived stereotype threat indicated that stereotype rejection was present for late middle-aged adults but not older adults, indicative of stereotype lift, and for individuals who reported low and average, but not high, levels of perceived stereotype threat. Additionally, a trend suggested more positive memory evaluation for those in the stereotype group who reported awareness of the stereotype stimuli than those who did not notice the stimuli. These results are consistent with other research demonstrating benefits to memory performance in adulthood based on motivational and contextual factors, such as using relevant memory materials and testing in favorable conditions. Moreover, the results of this study contribute to our understanding of individuals’ responses to different types of stereotype stimuli, and the differential impact of stereotype manipulations that are subtle versus blatant. Individuals were motivated to counteract negative stereotype effects when conditions were supportive, stereotype presentations were naturalistic, and personal beliefs were positive.

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The impact of reminiscence on autobiographical memory, cognition and psychological well-being in healthy older adults

Europe’s Journal of Psychology ◽

10.5964/ejop.v16i2.2097 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 16 (2) ◽

pp. 317-330

Author(s):

Andrew P. Allen ◽

Caoilainn Doyle ◽

Richard A. P. Roche

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Autobiographical Memory ◽

Satisfaction With Life ◽

Memory Performance ◽

Well Being ◽

Control Group ◽

Psychological Well Being ◽

Healthy Older Adults ◽

Before And After ◽

The Impact

Reminiscence therapy has improved autobiographical memory in older adults with memory impairment. However, there has been a relative lack of research examining the impact of reminiscence interventions on healthy older adults, despite the fact that healthy ageing has been associated with a reduction in episodic autobiographical memory. The current study examined the effects of a semi-structured reminiscence program, compared to a no-intervention control and an active control group focused on current life, in healthy older adults. Before and after reminiscence or control, we assessed episodic and semantic autobiographical memory, as well as reliving of the memory and re-experiencing the emotion associated with the memory. We also examined new learning and executive function, as well as quality of life, satisfaction with life, anxiety, depression, and mood. The reminiscence intervention did not lead to a differing impact on autobiographical memory, cognition or psychological well-being, compared to the control groups. The current results indicate that simple reminiscence does not lead to enhanced autobiographical memory performance in healthy older adults.

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Inefficient Encoding as an Explanation for Age-Related Deficits in Recollection-Based Processing

Journal of Psychophysiology ◽

10.1027/0269-8803/a000122 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 28 (3) ◽

pp. 148-161 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

David Friedman ◽

Ray Johnson

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Young Adults ◽

Cognitive Processes ◽

Brain Activity ◽

Memory Performance ◽

Brain Regions ◽

Semantic Retrieval ◽

Age Related ◽

The Face ◽

Episodic Memories

A cardinal feature of aging is a decline in episodic memory (EM). Nevertheless, there is evidence that some older adults may be able to “compensate” for failures in recollection-based processing by recruiting brain regions and cognitive processes not normally recruited by the young. We review the evidence suggesting that age-related declines in EM performance and recollection-related brain activity (left-parietal EM effect; LPEM) are due to altered processing at encoding. We describe results from our laboratory on differences in encoding- and retrieval-related activity between young and older adults. We then show that, relative to the young, in older adults brain activity at encoding is reduced over a brain region believed to be crucial for successful semantic elaboration in a 400–1,400-ms interval (left inferior prefrontal cortex, LIPFC; Johnson, Nessler, & Friedman, 2013 ; Nessler, Friedman, Johnson, & Bersick, 2007 ; Nessler, Johnson, Bersick, & Friedman, 2006 ). This reduced brain activity is associated with diminished subsequent recognition-memory performance and the LPEM at retrieval. We provide evidence for this premise by demonstrating that disrupting encoding-related processes during this 400–1,400-ms interval in young adults affords causal support for the hypothesis that the reduction over LIPFC during encoding produces the hallmarks of an age-related EM deficit: normal semantic retrieval at encoding, reduced subsequent episodic recognition accuracy, free recall, and the LPEM. Finally, we show that the reduced LPEM in young adults is associated with “additional” brain activity over similar brain areas as those activated when older adults show deficient retrieval. Hence, rather than supporting the compensation hypothesis, these data are more consistent with the scaffolding hypothesis, in which the recruitment of additional cognitive processes is an adaptive response across the life span in the face of momentary increases in task demand due to poorly-encoded episodic memories.

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