The generalizability of training gains in dementia: effects of an imagery-based mnemonic on face-name retention duration.
The generalizability of the results from a case study on the effects of an imagery mnemonic on face-name recall in dementia was examined (Hill, Evankovich, Sheikh, & Yesavage, 1987). Seven patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and 1 patient with multi-infarct dementia (MID) were trained by using the method devised by Hill et al. Application of the mnemonic increased the time during which face-name associations could be held in memory for 1 AD patient, and this improvement was maintained in a 1-month follow-up assessment. However, no training gains were observed for the remaining 7 patients, thus questioning the generalizability of this method in enhancing memory in dementia.
Bäckman
L
L
Section of Psychology, Stockholm Gerontology Research Center, Sweden.
Josephsson
S
S
Herlitz
A
A
Stigsdotter
A
A
Viitanen
M
M
D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000523:psychology*; D015161:Dementia, Multi-Infarct / Q000523:psychology*; D005145:Face; D005260:Female; D005556:Form Perception; D005793:Generalization, Psychological; D006801:Humans; D007092:Imagination; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D009275:Names; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010153:Paired-Associate Learning; D012153:Retention, Psychology; D014706:Verbal Learning