Feasibility of Remote Automated Verbal Paired Associate (VPA) Learning Over Repeated Exposure (LORE)

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundLearning over repeated exposure (LORE) in periods of days or months has been shown in recent studies to be sensitive to amyloid load where short‐term learning tested in immediate recall was not (Samaroo et al., 2020). Prior LORE studies have used visual presentations of words, non‐words, and faces. We addressed the feasibility of using validated verbal paired associate (VPA) stimuli in an automated LORE task, with verbal delivery and scoring performed by our NeuroVocalix system using text‐to‐speech (TTS) and automated speech recognition (ASR). Previously we have shown that using a word‐pair memorability model based on natural language characteristics to generate sets of VPA word‐pairs of equivalent memorability allows for repeated testing with interchangeable stimulus sets. Here we explore the use of one such set in an adaptation of VPA that assesses LORE rather than immediate recall and shows promising results.MethodIn this pilot study, we assessed memory performance in 20 older adults (10m, 10f) aged 65+ years, (M = 70.7, SD = 4.65), recruited using the Prolific online platform with the test delivered using our proprietary system. The task for participants was to learn a set of eight word‐pair associations over a burst of five days. On the first day, participants heard the word‐pair set, and were immediately tested for recall of that set. On days two, three, and four of the study, participants first attempted cued recall of the eight word‐pairs, after which the set was presented again, and the session ended. On the final day, cued recall was tested for the last time.ResultOn the first day, immediate recall scores were in line with first attempt VPA scores observed in validation work. On the second day of the series, scores fell through forgetting, and then learning over three further exposures showed monotonically increasing recall scores with neither ceiling nor floor effects across the group. Adherence was excellent, with 99% of sessions successfully completed, and participants reported high enjoyment of the task and eager anticipation of sessions.ConclusionVPA‐form LORE using our validated VPA word‐pair stimuli performs well and shows promising task characteristics in a representative sample.