Route learning in amnesia: a comparison of trial-and-error and errorless learning in patients with the Korsakoff syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the errorless learning approach using a procedural memory task (i.e. learning of actual routes) in patients with amnesia, as compared to trial-and-error learning.


METHODS
Counterbalanced self-controlled cases series.


METHODS
Psychiatric hospital (Korsakoff clinic).


METHODS
A convenience sample of 10 patients with the Korsakoff amnestic syndrome.


METHODS
All patients learned a route in four sessions on separate days using an errorless approach and a different route using trial-and-error.


METHODS
Error rate was scored during route learning and standard neuro-psychological tests were administered (i.e. subtest route recall of the Rivermead Behavioural Memory Test (RBMT) and the Dutch version of the California Verbal Learning Test (VLGT)).


RESULTS
A significant learning effect was found in the trial-and-error condition over consecutive sessions (P = 0.006), but no performance difference was found between errorless and trial-and-error learning of the routes. VLGT performance was significantly correlated with a trial-and-error advantage (P < 0.05); no significant correlation was found between the RBMT subtest and the learning conditions.


CONCLUSIONS
Errorless learning was no more successful than trial-and-error learning of a procedural spatial task in patients with the Korsakoff syndrome (severe amnesia).
Kessels
Roy P C
RP
NICI, Neuropsychology and Rehabilitation, Radboud University Nijmegen and Department of Medical Psychology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, The Netherlands. R.Kessels@ger.umcn.nl
van Loon
Eke
E
Wester
Arie J
AJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric; D006801:Humans; D007361:Intelligence Tests; D020915:Korsakoff Syndrome / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands