Retrieval practice improves memory in multiple sclerosis: clinical application of the testing effect.
The testing effect is a robust cognitive phenomenon by which memory retrieval on a test improves subsequent recall more than restudying. Also known as retrieval practice, the testing effect has been studied almost exclusively in healthy undergraduates. The current study investigated whether retrieval practice during testing leads to better delayed recall than restudy among persons with multiple sclerosis (MS), a neurologic disease associated with memory dysfunction. In a within-subjects design, 32 persons with MS and 16 demographically matched healthy controls (HC) studied 48 verbal paired associates (VPA) divided across 3 learning conditions: massed restudy (MR), spaced restudy (SR), and spaced testing (ST). Delayed VPA cued recall was measured after 45 min. There was a large main effect of learning condition (etap2 = .54, p < .001) such that both MS and HC participants produced better delayed recall for VPAs learned through ST relative to MR and SR; and SR relative to MR. This same pattern was observed for MS participants with objective memory impairment (n = 16), thereby providing the first evidence that retrieval practice improves memory more than restudy among persons with neurologically based memory impairment.
Sumowski
James F
JF
Kessler Foundation Research Center and University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, USA. jsumowski@kesslerfoundation.org
Chiaravalloti
Nancy
N
Deluca
John
J
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010153:Paired-Associate Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D011214:Practice, Psychological; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D014706:Verbal Learning / Q000502:physiology