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Neuropsychological Practice Effects in the Context of Cognitive Decline: Contributions from Learning and Task Novelty

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 January 2016

Sommer R. Thorgusen ,
Yana Suchy Open the ORCID record for Yana Suchy [Opens in a new window] ,
Gordon J. Chelune  and
Brian R. Baucom
Sommer R. Thorgusen*
Affiliation:
University of Utah, Department of Psychology, Salt Lake City, Utah
Yana Suchy
Affiliation:
University of Utah, Department of Psychology, Salt Lake City, Utah
Gordon J. Chelune
Affiliation:
University of Utah, Department of Neurology, Salt Lake City, Utah
Brian R. Baucom
Affiliation:
University of Utah, Department of Psychology, Salt Lake City, Utah
*
Correspondence and reprint requests to: Sommer R. Thorgusen, Department of Psychology, University of Utah, 380 South 1530 East, BEH S Room 502, Salt Lake City, UT 84112. E-mail: somrae@gmail.com
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Abstract

Although cognitive decline is typically associated with decreasing practice effects (PEs) (presumably due to declining memory), some studies show increased PEs with declines in cognition. One explanation for these inconsistencies is that PEs reflect not only memory, but also rebounds from adapting to task novelty (i.e., novelty effect), leading to increased PEs. We examined a theoretical model of relationships among novelty effects, memory, cognitive decline, and within-session PEs. Sixty-six older adults ranging from normal to severely impaired completed measures of memory, novelty effects, and two trials each of Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, 4thEdition Symbol Search and Coding. Interrelationships among variables were examined using regression analyses. PEs for Symbol Search and Coding (a) were related to different proposed PE components (i.e., memory and novelty effects), such that novelty effect predicted Symbol Search PE (R2=.239, p<.001) and memory predicted Coding PE (R2=.089, p=.015), and (b) showed different patterns across stages of cognitive decline, such that the greatest cognitive decline was associated with smallest Coding PE (R2=.125, p=.004), whereas intermediate cognitive decline was associated with the greatest Symbol Search PE (R2=.097, p=.040). The relationship between cognitive decline and PE for Symbol Search was partially mediated by novelty effect among older adults with abnormal cognitive decline (model R2=.286, p<.001). These findings (a) suggest that PE is not a unitary construct, (b) offer an explanation for contradictory findings in the literature, and (c) highlight the need for a better understanding of component processes of PE across different neuropsychological measures. (JINS, 2016, 22, 453–466)

Keywords

CognitionLearningMemoryMild cognitive impairmentCognitive reserveModelsTheoretical
Type
Research Articles
Information
Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society , Volume 22 , Supplement 4 , April 2016 , pp. 453 - 466
Copyright
Copyright © The International Neuropsychological Society 2016 

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