Recall in aging and Alzheimer's disease as a function of modality, phonological similarity, and category.
Item
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Title
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Recall in aging and Alzheimer's disease as a function of modality, phonological similarity, and category.
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Identifier
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AAI9618114
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identifier
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9618114
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Creator
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Weickert, Thomas Wesley.
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Contributor
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Adviser: Susan Karp Manning
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Date
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1996
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Language
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English
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Publisher
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City University of New York.
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Subject
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Psychology, Psychobiology | Gerontology
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Abstract
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Since an inability to acquire and retain new information is the most prominent feature of early Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and is also present in normal aging, this study investigated variables relevant to the formation of new memories. Two goals were to develop a screening tool useful in early diagnosis of memory impairment and to gain insight into processes underlying the construction and formation of new memories.;Serial and free recall procedures were employed to assess immediate and delayed recall, respectively. Auditory and visual presentations of phonologically similar and dissimilar words and letters were used to determine the effects of modality of presentation, phonological similarity, and category upon correct responding. Relative to visually presented items, previous studies have demonstrated superior recall for final list items following auditory presentation in normal populations. Phonological similarity among items in lists has been demonstrated to attenuate recall relative to lists composed of phonologically dissimilar items. Previous work has indicated that intrusion errors produced in AD patients may be phonologically related to the correct information to be recalled.;During both immediate and delayed recall, the young displayed the best performance followed in order by the elderly, mildly impaired, and AD groups. Effects of modality and phonological similarity were maintained throughout normal aging and during early AD. The phonological similarity effect was accentuated with age. During immediate serial recall all groups demonstrated superior recall for lists of letters relative to words. During delayed recall this pattern was reversed and all groups displayed superior recall for words.;All groups were able to maintain their responses within the proper category. The fewest number of intrusion errors were produced in the young with increasing amounts produced in the elderly, mildly impaired and AD groups. During immediate recall phonological similarity between items in lists produced perseveration in all groups, whereas phonological dissimilarity among items produced extra-list intrusion errors. The pattern of results obtained in this study supports previous findings and suggests age related impairment of the articulatory loop system of working memory as well as an integration of function between prefrontal cortex and the hippocampal formation.
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Type
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dissertation
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Source
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PQT Legacy CUNY.xlsx
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degree
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Ph.D.
