title: Self-generated learning in people with multiple sclerosis.
abstract: Memory impairment is among the most common cognitive deficits in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). To remediate this problem, recent research has evaluated the benefits of self-generated encoding. These nascent investigations reveal that people with MS who have mild memory impairment demonstrate a significant memory benefit from self-generated encoding compared with didactic learning. To extend prior research, the present experiment included MS patients with moderate-severe, rather than just mild, memory impairment. Additionally, the experiment evaluated whether self-generated encoding improves memory for activities of daily living instead of abstract words. Specifically, the experiment determined whether self-generated encoding enhanced memory for names, appointments, and object locations. In agreement with and extending prior research, MS patients remembered more information if it was self-generated rather than didactically presented, and this finding occurred despite moderate-severe memory impairment. Furthermore, compared with didactic encoding, self-generation enhanced recall of activities of daily living. Implications of these findings for cognitive rehabilitation and the nature of memory impairment in MS are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Tulsa, 600 South College Avenue, Tulsa, OK 74104, USA. michael-basso@utulsa.edu
authors.forename: Michael R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Basso
authors.forename: Natasha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lowery
authors.forename: Courtney
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ghormley
authors.forename: Dennis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Combs
authors.forename: Jay
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005793:Generalization, Psychological; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010153:Paired-Associate Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014706:Verbal Learning / Q000502:physiology