Memory Training In Adults Research Articles

Working memory training in adults with trichotillomania: A 5-week, single-blind, randomized controlled study

ObjectiveThis randomized controlled study investigated the effect of the Cogmed Working Memory Training (CWMT) program on hair-pulling severity and working memory in trichotillomania (TTM). Methods36 adults with TTM were assigned to CWMT or active control (25 sessions, 5 weeks). Data from intention-to-treat [ITT] (CWMT: N = 21; control: N = 15) and per-protocol (CWMT: N = 16; control: N = 13) samples were analyzed. The primary and secondary outcomes were the totals on the Massachusetts General Hospital Hair-Pulling Scale (MGH-HPS) and the Digit Span (Backward) subtest of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale. Assessments occurred at baseline, at 5 weeks, and 3 months post-training. A mixed-model repeated measures ANOVA was done, with the interaction of group x time as primary effect of investigation. ResultsRegarding hair-pulling severity, the interaction effect of group x time was not significant (p = 0.27). Regarding working memory, there was a significant group × time interaction in favour of CWMT (p = 0.03), with improvement in working memory from baseline to 5 weeks (p < 0.001, LS mean difference −1.98). ConclusionsCWMT is not superior to active control in reducing hair-pulling. Working memory improved significantly over the short term with CWMT. The findings are a novel contribution to work on cognitive training effects on problematic repetitive behaviours.

Memory training for adults with probable mild cognitive impairment: a pilot study

Background & Objectives: This pilot study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of memory training and health training intervention over a 24-month period in people with probable mild cognitive impairment (MCI).Research Design & Methods: Based on the accepted criteria, and the neuropsychiatric measures used in the trial, MCI was defined as a subjective change in cognition, impairment in episodic memory, preservation of independence of functional abilities, and no dementia. Without a neurological assessment, laboratory tests, and psychometric evaluation combined, some of our participants may have had dementia that we were unable to detect through neuropsychological testing. Of the 263 total participants, 39 met criteria for a diagnosis of MCI. There were 19 adults in the memory and 20 in health training conditions. Both groups received twenty hours of classroom content that included eight hours of booster sessions at three months post intervention. Hierarchical linear models (HLM) and standardized regression-based (SBR) analyses were used to test the efficacy of the intervention on immediate recall, delayed recall, subjective memory complaints, and memory self-efficacy. Age, education, depression, racial group, ethnic group, MMSE score, and baseline performance were included as covariates.Results: Over 24 months, the MCI group in the memory training condition showed better objective and subjective memory outcomes compared with the MCI group in the health training condition.Conclusions: Senior WISE Memory training delivered to individuals with MCI was able to forestall the participants’ declining cognitive ability and sustain the benefit over two years in both subjective and objective memory function.

Failure of working memory training to enhance cognition or intelligence.

Fluid intelligence is important for successful functioning in the modern world, but much evidence suggests that fluid intelligence is largely immutable after childhood. Recently, however, researchers have reported gains in fluid intelligence after multiple sessions of adaptive working memory training in adults. The current study attempted to replicate and expand those results by administering a broad assessment of cognitive abilities and personality traits to young adults who underwent 20 sessions of an adaptive dual n-back working memory training program and comparing their post-training performance on those tests to a matched set of young adults who underwent 20 sessions of an adaptive attentional tracking program. Pre- and post-training measurements of fluid intelligence, standardized intelligence tests, speed of processing, reading skills, and other tests of working memory were assessed. Both training groups exhibited substantial and specific improvements on the trained tasks that persisted for at least 6 months post-training, but no transfer of improvement was observed to any of the non-trained measurements when compared to a third untrained group serving as a passive control. These findings fail to support the idea that adaptive working memory training in healthy young adults enhances working memory capacity in non-trained tasks, fluid intelligence, or other measures of cognitive abilities.

Cognitive and memory training in adults at risk of dementia: a systematic review.

BackgroundEffective non-pharmacological cognitive interventions to prevent Alzheimer's dementia or slow its progression are an urgent international priority. The aim of this review was to evaluate cognitive training trials in individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and evaluate the efficacy of training in memory strategies or cognitive exercises to determine if cognitive training could benefit individuals at risk of developing dementia.MethodsA systematic review of eligible trials was undertaken, followed by effect size analysis. Cognitive training was differentiated from other cognitive interventions not meeting generally accepted definitions, and included both cognitive exercises and memory strategies.ResultsTen studies enrolling a total of 305 subjects met criteria for cognitive training in MCI. Only five of the studies were randomized controlled trials. Meta-analysis was not considered appropriate due to the heterogeneity of interventions. Moderate effects on memory outcomes were identified in seven trials. Cognitive exercises (relative effect sizes ranged from .10 to 1.21) may lead to greater benefits than memory strategies (.88 to -1.18) on memory.ConclusionsPrevious conclusions of a lack of efficacy for cognitive training in MCI may have been influenced by not clearly defining the intervention. Our systematic review found that cognitive exercises can produce moderate-to-large beneficial effects on memory-related outcomes. However, the number of high quality RCTs remains low, and so further trials must be a priority. Several suggestions for the better design of cognitive training trials are provided.

The efficacy of working memory training in improving crystallized intelligence

AbstractCrystallized intelligence (Gc) is thought to reflect skills acquired through knowledge and experience and is related to verbal ability, language development^1^ and academic success^2^. Gc, together with fluid intelligence (Gf), are constructs of general intelligence^3^. While Gc involves learning, knowledge and skills, Gf refers to our ability in tests of problem-solving, pattern matching, and reasoning. Although there is evidence that Gf can be improved through memory training in adults^4^, the efficacy of memory training in improving acquired skills, such as Gc and academic attainment, has yet to be established. Furthermore, evidence of transfer effects from gains made in the trained tasks is sparse^5^. Here we demonstrate improvements in Gc and academic attainment using working memory training. Participants in the Training group displayed superior performance in all measures of cognitive assessments post-training compared to the Control group, who received knowledge-based training. While previous studies have indicated that gains in intelligence are due to improvements in test-taking skills^6^, this study demonstrates that it is possible to improve crystallized skills through working memory training. Considering the fundamental importance of Gc in acquiring and using knowledge and its predictive power for a large variety of intellectual tasks, these findings may be highly relevant to improving educational outcomes in those who are struggling.

Clinical Neuropsychology: Cognitive Function in Epilepsy

Clinical Neuropsychology: Cognitive Function in Epilepsy