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The contribution of implicit and explicit memory to the effects of errorless learning: A comparison between young and older adults

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 April 2005

ROY P.C. KESSELS ,
SELMA TE BOEKHORST  and
ALBERT POSTMA
ROY P.C. KESSELS
Affiliation:
Helmholtz Instituut, Utrecht University, The Netherlands Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands
SELMA TE BOEKHORST
Affiliation:
Institute for Research in Extramural Medicine, VU Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands Netherlands Institute of Mental Health and Addiction, Utrecht, The Netherlands
ALBERT POSTMA
Affiliation:
Helmholtz Instituut, Utrecht University, The Netherlands
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Abstract

There is evidence that the prevention of errors during learning might be helpful in improving an impaired memory performance, both in amnesia as well as in normal age-related memory decline. Although errorless learning is a promising technique for use in rehabilitation practice, the underlying mechanisms are unclear. That is, it has been suggested that the beneficial effects of errorless learning operate through implicit memory, whereas others implicate that it is explicit memory that is responsible for the enhanced memory performance after errorless learning. The current study examined the contribution of implicit and explicit memory function to the memory performance after errorless and errorful learning using the process-dissociation procedure. A group of young adults (N = 40) was compared to a matched group of older individuals (N = 40) on a spatial memory task (i.e., learning the locations of everyday objects in a room). The results clearly show age-related decline in explicit spatial memory, while implicit spatial memory was unaffected. Furthermore, the young group benefited from errorless learning compared to errorful learning, while the older group did not show a difference between the two learning conditions. Also, it was found that the effects of errorful learning were related to explicit memory function, and not implicit processing, corroborating and extending recent findings. (JINS, 2005, 11, 144–151.)

Keywords

Errorless learningSpatial memoryProcess-dissociation procedureImplicit memoryExplicit memoryAging
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society , Volume 11 , Issue 2 , March 2005 , pp. 144 - 151
Copyright
© 2005 The International Neuropsychological Society

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