scholarly journals Memory and Cognitive Abilities in University Professors: Evidence for Successful Aging

1995 ◽  
Vol 6 (5) ◽  
pp. 271-277 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arthur P. Shimamura ◽  
Jane M. Berry ◽  
Jennifer A. Mangels ◽  
Cheryl L. Rusting ◽  
Paul J. Jurica
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Reaction Time ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Successful Aging ◽  
Paired Associate ◽  
Age Effects ◽  
Associate Learning ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Prose Recall ◽  
The University

Professors from the University of California at Berkeley were administered a 90-min test battery of cognitive performance that included measures of reaction time, paired-associate learning, working memory, and prose recall Age effects among the professors were observed on tests of reaction time, paired-associate memory, and some aspects of working memory Age effects were not observed on measures of proactive interference and prose recall, though age-related declines are generally observed in standard groups of elderly individuals The findings suggest that age-related decrements in certain cognitive functions may be mitigated in intelligent, cognitively active individuals

VStore: A Novel Virtual Reality Assessment of Functional Cognition (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lilla Alexandra Porffy ◽  
Mitul A. Mehta ◽  
Joel Patchitt ◽  
Celia Boussebaa ◽  
Jack Brett ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Paired Associate ◽  
Model Fitting ◽  
Paired Associate Learning ◽  
Associate Learning ◽  
Cognitive Domains ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Age Related Cognitive Decline

BACKGROUND Cognitive deficits are present in a number of neuropsychiatric disorders including, Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia and depression. Assessments used to measure cognition in these disorders are time-consuming, burdensome, and have low ecological validity. To address these limitations, we developed a novel virtual reality shopping task – VStore. OBJECTIVE This study aims to establish the concurrent and construct validity of VStore in relation to the established computerized cognitive battery, Cogstate; and tests its sensitivity to age related cognitive decline. METHODS Hundred and four healthy volunteers aged 20-79 completed both assessments. Main VStore outcomes included: 1) verbal recall of 12 grocery items, 2) time to collect items, 3) time to select items on a self-checkout machine, 4) time to make the payment, 5) time to order coffee, and 6) total completion time. To establish concurrent validity, bivariate correlations were performed between VStore outcomes and Cogstate tasks measuring attention, processing speed, verbal and visual learning, working memory, executive function, and paired associate learning. Construct validity analysis was also performed to examine which cognitive domains best predicted VStore performance. Finally, two ridge regression models were built using VStore outcomes in the first, and Cogstate outcomes in the second model as predictors of biological age to compare their sensitivity to age-related cognitive decline. RESULTS We found moderate correlations between VStore and Cogstate outcomes. VStore Total Time was best explained by tasks measuring working memory and paired associate learning, in addition to age and technological familiarity, accounting for 46% of the variance. Finally, with λ = 5.16, the model fitting selected five parameters for VStore when predicting biological age (MSE = 185.8, SE= 19.34). With λ = 9.49 for Cogstate, the model fitting selected all eight tasks (MSE = 226.8, SE = 23.48). CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that VStore is a promising assessment that engages standard cognitive domains and is sensitive to age-related cognitive decline. CLINICALTRIAL NA

The Mismeasurement of Mind: Life-Span Changes in Paired-Associate-Learning Scores Reflect the “Cost” of Learning, Not Cognitive Decline

2017 ◽  
Vol 28 (8) ◽  
pp. 1171-1179 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Ramscar ◽  
Ching Chu Sun ◽  
Peter Hendrix ◽  
Harald Baayen
Keyword(s):  
Life Span ◽  
Native Speakers ◽  
Paired Associate ◽  
Computational Simulation ◽  
Paired Associate Learning ◽  
Associate Learning ◽  
Test Items ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Language Exposure ◽  
The Cost

The age-related declines observed in scores on paired-associate-learning (PAL) tests are widely taken as support for the idea that human cognitive capacities decline across the life span. In a computational simulation, we showed that the patterns of change in PAL scores are actually predicted by the models that formalize the associative learning process in other areas of behavioral and neuroscientific research. These models also predict that manipulating language exposure can reproduce the experience-related performance differences erroneously attributed to age-related decline in age-matched adults. Consistent with this, results showed that older bilinguals outperformed native speakers in a German PAL test, an advantage that increased with age. These analyses and results show that age-related PAL performance changes reflect the predictable effects of learning on the associability of test items, and indicate that failing to control for these effects is distorting the understanding of cognitive and brain development in adulthood.

scholarly journals A Pilot Study of Assessing Cognition in Children with Sickle Cell Disease Using a New Software Package the Cogstate Battery

Blood ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 126 (23) ◽  
pp. 4592-4592
Author(s):  
Jessica Thompson ◽  
Catherine Mkandawire ◽  
Subarna Chakravorty ◽  
Michael Laffan
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Paired Associate ◽  
Maze Learning ◽  
Paired Associate Learning ◽  
Cell Disease ◽  
Test Report ◽  
Associate Learning ◽  
Delayed Recall ◽  
Cognitive Domains ◽  
Learning Test

Abstract Introduction 17% of children with sickle cell disease (SCD) between the ages of 6 and 16 could have silent infarcts1. Depending on the area of the brain affected silent infarcts can cause problems with attention, coordination, visual-motor speed and executive function. Children with SCD in the UK do not receive routine MRI scans. Subtle defects in cognition can be assessed with neuropsychometric testing which involves multiple tests assessing many areas of cognition. However, testing is limited to those with known neurological deficits due to lack of funding and shortage of specialist staff. There is a need for a robust screening tool for assessment of cognition, which could identify children for further specialist testing. The Cogstate battery is computer-based program that assesses cognition and has been used in several clinical settings, both adult and paediatric2-3. The Cogstate battery is reported to be culturally neutral and is available in several languages. Additionally the Cogstate battery is free from practice effects and so could be used as an annual assessment tool in order to identify any declines as early as possible. The Cogstate battery has not yet been used to assess cognition in children with SCD. Research Objectives The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of using the Cogstate Battery as a tool for the assessment of cognition in children with SCD. It was hypothesised that the Cogstate battery would be easy to use within this setting and would be acceptable to patients, parents and assessors. Methods Eight clinically well children, aged 10-17 with SCD were recruited through St Mary's Hospital paediatric haematology outpatient clinics. The Cogstate software was downloaded onto a Windows laptop computer and an anonymous profile was created for each child before testing. A battery of 6 tests (Table 1) was created aiming to assess a range of cognitive domains within a reasonable amount of time. Every child completed the battery of tests once, which included a short practice before each test. After testing each patient was asked to give an opinion of how they found the tests. Upon completion of the test the patients' results were uploaded to the Cogstate website which generated a test report and a case report form. A mark was given for each test and a score of over 90 represents normal cognition in the area tested, 81-90 represents mild impairment and below 81 represents impairment.Table 1.Tests used in the Cogstate battery and corresponding cognitive domains assessedTest NameCognitive Domain TestedContinuous paired associate learning (CPAL)Paired associate learningDetection (DET)Psychomotor functionGroton maze learning test (ME)Executive functionGroton maze learning test-delayed recall (ME)Delayed recallIdentification (IDN)AttentionOne card learning (OCL)LearningOne-back memory (ONBA)Working memory Results 8 patients completed the battery, taking on average 29 minutes (Table 2). The battery was easy to carry out and although some children reported it as boring, they all finished the tests without distress. The test report generated by the Cogstate website allowed results to be analysed quickly and with ease. An overall score from each test is clearly indicated. The Continuous Paired Associate Learning test was not displayed as part of the test report as there was insufficient normal data to draw conclusions from the results within the age group tested. Table 2. Summary Report of 8 patients tested PatientID DET(Psychomotor function) IDN(Attention) OCL(Learning) ONBS(Processing speed) ONBA(Working memory) ME(Executive function & delayed recall) 0001 87 75 82 78 83 99 0002 106 105 94 90 117 99 0003 96 101 95 95 117 98 0004 76 76 94 81 94 93 0005 86 84 98 81 89 89 0006 98 104 97 97 94 111 0007 94 90 91 83 101 86 0008 91 88 108 90 96 95 Conclusion The Cogstate battery is a feasible tool for paediatric SCD patients and can be undertaken in a clinic setting. This feasibility study will help design a prospective, comparative study of cognition in children with SCD using the Cogstate battery and conventional neuropsychometric assessment and once validated, would be a useful tool to assess cognition and institute timely educational and medical intervention. References: 1. Pegelow J Pediatr. 2002 Mar;140(3):348-54. 2. Hammers, Am J Alzheimers Dis. 2011 Jun;26(4):326-33 3. Harel PLoS One. 2014 Jul 11;9(7):e101750 Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Effects of Configuration on the Paired-Associate Learning of Blissymbols by Preschool Children With Normal Cognitive Abilities

1992 ◽  
Vol 35 (6) ◽  
pp. 1376-1383 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donald R. Fuller ◽  
Lyle L. Lloyd
Keyword(s):  
Preschool Children ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Present Experiment ◽  
Paired Associate ◽  
Paired Associate Learning ◽  
High Complexity ◽  
Learning Paradigm ◽  
Associate Learning ◽  
Cognitively Normal

Translucency appears to be a potent variable in the learning of Blissymbols by preschool children with normal cognitive abilities. Complexity does not appear to influence learning for these individuals when there is a concurrent condition of high translucency. However, a condition of high complexity seems to enhance the learnability of Blissymbols having low translucency. For the present experiment, an attempt was made to determine if symbol configuration affects the learning of highly complex Blissymbols that bear little relationship to their referents. A paired-associate learning paradigm was used to present 30 Blissymbols to 20 cognitively normal preschool children. These symbols were evenly divided into superimposed and nonsuperimposed groups. Results indicated that the children learned more superimposed symbols than their nonsuperimposed counterparts. The implications of this finding for the teaching of Blissymbols are discussed.

scholarly journals Age-Related Deficits in Memory Encoding and Retrieval in Word List Free Recall

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (12) ◽  
pp. 211 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dorina Cadar ◽  
Marius Usher ◽  
Eddy J. Davelaar
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Free Recall ◽  
Word List ◽  
Age Effect ◽  
Age Effects ◽  
Semantic Structure ◽  
Memory Encoding ◽  
Total Recall ◽  
Semantic Clustering ◽  
Age Related

Although ageing is known to affect memory, the precise nature of its effect on retrieval and encoding processes is not well understood. Here, we examine the effect of ageing on the free recall of word lists, in which the semantic structure of word sequences was manipulated from unrelated words to pairs of associated words with various separations (between pair members) within the sequence. We find that ageing is associated with reduced total recall, especially for sequences with associated words. Furthermore, we find that the degree of semantic clustering (controlled for chance clustering) shows an age effect and that it interacts with the distance between the words within a pair. The results are consistent with the view that age effects in memory are mediated both by retrieval and by encoding processes associated with frontal control and working memory.

scholarly journals El Pensamiento computacional: ¿Una nueva forma de entrenar la memoria de trabajo?

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (63) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eduardo Sanabria Zafra ◽  
Noelia Rodríguez Rodríguez ◽  
Andrés Eduardo Zerpa Pérez ◽  
Pedro Prieto Marañón ◽  
María Ángeles Alonso Rodríguez
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Computational Thinking ◽  
The Other ◽  
High Level ◽  
The University

El pensamiento computacional es un concepto reciente que ha cobrado importancia en los últimos años. Se ha encontrado que entrenamientos basados en este concepto, son capaces de producir mejoras en diversas funciones cognitivas. En este trabajo se ha empleado un entrenamiento basado en el pensamiento computacional elaborado por el Aula Cultural de Pensamiento Computacional y la Fundación general de la Universidad de La Laguna. El entrenamiento se aplicó a alumnos de secundaria divididos en dos grupos: un grupo que se basaba en una metodología de aprendizaje guiada y otro basado en una metodología de aprendizaje por descubrimiento. El objetivo es comprobar si el entrenamiento es capaz de producir mejoras en las medidas de memoria de trabajo y si es más beneficioso para los participantes con un nivel de memoria de trabajo alto. Los resultados obtenidos muestran que el entrenamiento, independientemente de la metodología que se aplique es capaz de producir mejoras en las diferentes medidas de memoria trabajo. Así mismo, no se encontró evidencia de que los participantes con un nivel de memoria de trabajo alto se beneficien más del entrenamiento en la mayoría de las pruebas, pero si se encontró un beneficio mayor de estos en la prueba de figuras abstractas. Computational thinking is a new concept wich has been adquiring relevance in the last few years. There are some evidence of trainings based on this new concept improving different cognitive abilities. In this paper, it has been used a training based on computational thinking, designed by “aula cultural de pensamiento computacional” and the general fundation of the University of La Laguna. This training was applied to students of secondary obligatory education who had been divided into two grups: one group recives the training with a methodology based in guide learning and the other group recived the training based on autolearning methodology. The main objective of this paper is to prove that training can improve the measures of working memory and check if the participants who have a high level of working memory take more benefits of the training. The results show that the training based on computational thinking improved the measures of working memory. In addition, there was no evidence of a higher level of benefit of the training in most of the taskes in the participants who have a high working memory level.

scholarly journals The Worst Performance Rule, or the Not-Best Performance Rule? Latent-Variable Analyses of Working Memory Capacity, Mind-Wandering Propensity, and Reaction Time

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew S. Welhaf ◽  
Bridget A. Smeekens ◽  
Matt E. Meier ◽  
Paul J. Silvia ◽  
Thomas R. Kwapil ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Reaction Time ◽  
Cognitive Ability ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Latent Variable ◽  
Response Times ◽  
Working Memory Capacity ◽  
Empirical Finding ◽  
Memory Capacity ◽  
Better Than

The worst performance rule (WPR) is a robust empirical finding reflecting that people’s worst task performance shows numerically stronger correlations with cognitive ability than their average or best performance. However, recent meta-analytic work has proposed this be renamed the “not-best performance” rule because mean and worst performance seem to predict cognitive ability to similar degrees, with both predicting ability better than best performance. We re-analyzed data from a previously published latent-variable study to test for worst vs. not-best performance across a variety of reaction time tasks in relation to two cognitive ability constructs: working memory capacity (WMC) and propensity for task-unrelated thought (TUT). Using two methods of assessing worst performance—ranked-binning and ex-Gaussian-modeling approaches—we found evidence for both the worst and not-best performance rules. WMC followed the not-best performance rule (correlating equivalently with mean and longest response times (RTs)) but TUT propensity followed the worst performance rule (correlating more strongly with longest RTs). Additionally, we created a mini-multiverse following different outlier exclusion rules to test the robustness of our findings; our findings remained stable across the different multiverse iterations. We provisionally conclude that the worst performance rule may only arise in relation to cognitive abilities closely linked to (failures of) sustained attention.

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