TY - JOUR
T1 - Poor Encoding and Weak Early Consolidation Underlie Memory Acquisition Deficits in Multiple Sclerosis
T2 - Retroactive Interference, Processing Speed, or Working Memory?
AU - Sandry, Joshua
AU - Zuppichini, Mark
AU - Rothberg, Jessica
AU - Valdespino-Hayden, Zerbrina
AU - DeLuca, John
PY - 2018/3/28
Y1 - 2018/3/28
N2 - Objective: Learning and memory impairments are common in multiple sclerosis (MS) and may be related to difficulty acquiring (encoding or consolidating) new information. We evaluate the role of retroactive interference and investigate whether minimizing interference immediately following encoding (early during consolidation) will improve MS participants' ability to remember new verbal information. Additionally, we investigate processing speed differences between memory-impaired and unimpaired participants and present an exploratory analysis of how the dual-components of working memory (capacity vs. processing) relate to memory impairment. Method: MS memory-unimpaired (N = 12) and MS memory-impaired participants (N = 12) were compared to healthy controls (N = 15). Interference onset following encoding (early, mid, late, no interference) was manipulated over the retention interval of a verbal learning and memory task. Response times (RT) were recorded during interference trials. Results: MS memory-impaired participants encoded less information and lost proportionally more information over the retention interval (weak consolidation). Lengthening the onset of interference did not benefit memory performance in this sample. Memory performance was unrelated to RT but was related to performance on the Symbol Digit Modalities Test. Primary capacity of working memory did not differ across groups; however, secondary memory processing was reduced for MS memory-impaired participants. Conclusion: Minimizing interference following encoding did not improve memory in this sample. Both initial encoding and early consolidation were reduced for memory-impaired MS participants. Evidence for a relationship between processing speed and memory was mixed and depended on the processing speed assessment used. Memory impairment in MS may be partially due to inefficient processing within working memory.
AB - Objective: Learning and memory impairments are common in multiple sclerosis (MS) and may be related to difficulty acquiring (encoding or consolidating) new information. We evaluate the role of retroactive interference and investigate whether minimizing interference immediately following encoding (early during consolidation) will improve MS participants' ability to remember new verbal information. Additionally, we investigate processing speed differences between memory-impaired and unimpaired participants and present an exploratory analysis of how the dual-components of working memory (capacity vs. processing) relate to memory impairment. Method: MS memory-unimpaired (N = 12) and MS memory-impaired participants (N = 12) were compared to healthy controls (N = 15). Interference onset following encoding (early, mid, late, no interference) was manipulated over the retention interval of a verbal learning and memory task. Response times (RT) were recorded during interference trials. Results: MS memory-impaired participants encoded less information and lost proportionally more information over the retention interval (weak consolidation). Lengthening the onset of interference did not benefit memory performance in this sample. Memory performance was unrelated to RT but was related to performance on the Symbol Digit Modalities Test. Primary capacity of working memory did not differ across groups; however, secondary memory processing was reduced for MS memory-impaired participants. Conclusion: Minimizing interference following encoding did not improve memory in this sample. Both initial encoding and early consolidation were reduced for memory-impaired MS participants. Evidence for a relationship between processing speed and memory was mixed and depended on the processing speed assessment used. Memory impairment in MS may be partially due to inefficient processing within working memory.
KW - Learning
KW - Memory consolidation
KW - Memory disorders
KW - Multiple sclerosis
KW - Processing speed
KW - Working memory
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85053854894&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1093/arclin/acy029
DO - 10.1093/arclin/acy029
M3 - Article
C2 - 29659655
AN - SCOPUS:85053854894
SN - 1873-5843
VL - 34
SP - 162
EP - 182
JO - Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology
JF - Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology
IS - 2
ER -