Actual Memory Performance Research Articles

Memory complaint and memory performance in the elderly: The effects of memory‐skills training and expectancy change

AbstractWhile the incidence of memory complaint has always been high among the elderly, recent research has demonstrated that there is often a discrepancy between subjective memory complaint and actual memory performance in this population. Four experimental groups were established to examine the relationship and the factors that may affect changes in memory complaint and memory performance. The groups consisted of a memory training condition, an expectancy change condition, an art discussion control condition, and an evaluation control condition. It was hypothesized that memory training sessions would be the most effective in increasing memory performance scores, and that the expectancy change sessions would significantly reduce the incidence of memory complaint. The findings provide support for these predictions and indicate that memory training programmes should teach strategies to facilitate memory while addressing older adults' expectations about memory performance.

Memory anxiety and memory performance in adulthood

AbstractThe present study examined the contribution of general and domain‐specific anxiety to the prediction of memory performance in a sample of 350 young, middle‐aged and old adults. In a preliminary stage of this investigation, psychometric analyses revealed that the predictive validity of the Anxiety scale of the Metamemory in Adulthood questionnaire, used to assess memory‐related anxiety, could be improved by using an abbreviated version of the scale. This Memory Anxiety subscale predicted level of state anxiety experienced by middle‐aged and older subjects in anticipation of a memory‐demanding task. It was superior to the general state measures in predicting actual memory performance, but only for the oldest age group. Results thus provide support for domain‐ and age‐specificity in the assessment of anxiety performance relationships.

Accuracy of MMPI-based inferences regarding memory and concentration in closed-head-trauma patients.

This study examined the validity of MMPI scores and MMPI-based cognitive complaints as indicators of memory and concentrational disturbances in 70 closed-head-trauma patients. The relation of scores on the MMPI Depression (D), Schizophrenia (Sc), Mental Dullness (D4), Lack of Ego Mastery, Cognitive (Sc2A), and Organic Symptoms (Org) scales to actual memory performance on the WA1S-R Digit Span and Wechsler Memory Scale (Russell's revision) subtests was explored. The results suggest an absence of any relation between actual memory performance on any of these subtests and MMPI scores or a Cognitive Complaint Index consisting of 8 MMPI items. Findings are discussed in light of the questionable validity of memory complaints in other samples, as well as possible limitations in the ecological validity of current tests of memory.

Adults' knowledge about memory: Awareness and use of memory strategies across tasks.

Two studies investigated college students' knowledge about the effectiveness of alternative memory strategies for different tasks and the relationship of this knowledge to strategy use and performance. In Experiment 1 students made paired-comparison judgments of the relative effectiveness of six strategies for increasing performance on one of three memory tasks. Experiment 2 examined the relationship of jugdments of strategy effectiveness to actual strategy use and memory performance

SPONTANEOUS USE OF MNEMONICS BY ELDERLY INDIVIDUALS

Abstract This study was prompted by the confusion that exists in the literature concerning the effectiveness of mnemonic training programs for elderly adults. Our purpose was to understand what kinds of mnemonic activities might occur spontaneously in standard (or “do‐nothing) control groups of older individuals. Elderly adults in two studies were asked to: (1) predict how successful they might be in a simple memorization task; (2) memorize a short list of common words; (3) report how they actually carried out the memory task. In the second study, reports of strategy usage were also given before the memorization task and compared with reports of strategies actually used. Summaries of the reported mnemonic strategies are presented. The relationships between strategy reports, memory performance, and predicted memory performance are examined. Predicted memory performance and actual memory performance were not strongly related. Reports of using imagery were relatively rare. Persons using deep processing stra...

MEMORY TRAINING IN THE COMMUNITY AGED: EFFECTS ON DEPRESSION, MEMORY COMPLAINT, AND MEMORY PERFORMANCE

This study compares the effects of two types of training programs on memory complaints, memory performance, and affective status in the community elderly. Prior research has suggested that although there are some age differences in memory, the memory complaints of older persons are related to depression and not to actual memory performance. In the present project subjects were randomly assigned into one of two treatment groups: (1) memory training, which received instruction in specific memory enhancement techniques, and (2) growth, which dealt with interpersonal and affective issues. The sample was comprised of women over SO, who responded to advertisements for a memory clinic. The results indicate that both training groups significantly reduced concerns about memory and resulted in improved memory performance. Further analysis suggested that changes in depression, not memory performance, were significantly associated with lessened complaints about memory following training. These results indicate the ef...

Two 4K static 5-V RAM's

This paper describes two 4096-bit, static, TTL compatible, 5 V only, MOS RAM's with worst case access times down to 200 ns and worst case power dissipations down to 370 mW. One is organized as 1K/spl times/4 and the other as 4K/spl times/1. Both devices are obtained from the same 192- by 197-mil die by a metal mask option and both are assembled in 22-pin dual-in-line packages. A novel memory status output signal is provided to allow the system designer to utilize actual memory performance rather than worst case data sheet specifications. This allows improved system benchmarks in addition to simplified timing.