Neuroscience
Errorless learning in cognitive rehabilitation: A critical review
Neuropsychological Rehabilatation. 2012 Jan 16;
Middleton EL, Schwartz MF
Abstract
Cognitive rehabilitation research is increasingly exploring errorless learning interventions, which prioritise the avoidance of errors during treatment. The errorless learning approach was originally developed for patients with severe anterograde amnesia, who were deemed to be at particular risk for error learning. Errorless learning has since been investigated in other memory-impaired populations (e.g., Alzheimer's disease) and acquired aphasia. In typical errorless training, target information is presented to the participant for study or immediate reproduction, a method that prevents participants from attempting to retrieve target information from long-term memory (i.e., retrieval practice). However, assuring error elimination by preventing difficult (and error-permitting) retrieval practice is a potential major drawback of the errorless approach. This review begins with discussion of research in the psychology of learning and memory that demonstrates the importance of difficult (and potentially errorful) retrieval practice for robust learning and prolonged performance gains. We then review treatment research comparing errorless and errorful methods in amnesia and aphasia, where only the latter provides (difficult) retrieval practice opportunities. In each clinical domain we find the advantage of the errorless approach is limited and may be offset by the therapeutic potential of retrieval practice. Gaps in current knowledge are identified that preclude strong conclusions regarding a preference for errorless treatments over methods that prioritise difficult retrieval practice. We offer recommendations for future research aimed at a strong test of errorless learning treatments, which involves direct comparison with methods where retrieval practice effects are maximised for long-term gains.
PMID: 22247957 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
- The Special Issue Spotter
We trawl the world's journals so you don't have to: Mental Time Travel: Social Psychological Perspectives on a Fundamental Human Capacity (European Journal of Social Psychology). Cyberbullying: Development, consequences, risk and protective factors...
- Neuropsychology Abstract Of The Day: Traumatic Brain Injury (tbi)
Bayley MT, Tate R, Douglas JM, Turkstra LS, Ponsford J, Stergiou-Kita M, Kua A, & Bragge P. (2014). INCOG Guidelines for Cognitive Rehabilitation Following Traumatic Brain Injury: Methods and Overview. Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation, 29(4), 290-306....
- Neuropsychology Abstract Of The Day: Memory Formation
Visualizing long-term memory formation in two neurons of the Drosophila brain Science. 2012 Feb 10;335(6069):678-85 Chen CC, Wu JK, Lin HW, Pai TP, Fu TF, Wu CL, Tully T, Chiang AS Abstract Long-term memory (LTM) depends on the synthesis of new proteins....
- Sensecam
Microsoft's research project: SenseCam SenseCam and memory functioning Here is a recently published research study: SenseCam improves memory for recent events and quality of life in a patient with memory retrieval difficulties. Memory. 2011 Sep 26;...
- Neuropsychology Abstract Of The Day: Cognitive Rehab In Ugandan Childhood Malaria Survivors
Bangirana P, Giordani B, John CC, Page C, Opoka RO, & Boivin MJ (2009). Immediate Neuropsychological and Behavioral Benefits of Computerized Cognitive Rehabilitation in Ugandan Pediatric Cerebral Malaria Survivors. Journal of Development and Behavioral...
Neuroscience
Neuropsychology Abstract of the Day: Cognitive Rehabilitation
Errorless learning in cognitive rehabilitation: A critical review
Neuropsychological Rehabilatation. 2012 Jan 16;
Middleton EL, Schwartz MF
Abstract
Cognitive rehabilitation research is increasingly exploring errorless learning interventions, which prioritise the avoidance of errors during treatment. The errorless learning approach was originally developed for patients with severe anterograde amnesia, who were deemed to be at particular risk for error learning. Errorless learning has since been investigated in other memory-impaired populations (e.g., Alzheimer's disease) and acquired aphasia. In typical errorless training, target information is presented to the participant for study or immediate reproduction, a method that prevents participants from attempting to retrieve target information from long-term memory (i.e., retrieval practice). However, assuring error elimination by preventing difficult (and error-permitting) retrieval practice is a potential major drawback of the errorless approach. This review begins with discussion of research in the psychology of learning and memory that demonstrates the importance of difficult (and potentially errorful) retrieval practice for robust learning and prolonged performance gains. We then review treatment research comparing errorless and errorful methods in amnesia and aphasia, where only the latter provides (difficult) retrieval practice opportunities. In each clinical domain we find the advantage of the errorless approach is limited and may be offset by the therapeutic potential of retrieval practice. Gaps in current knowledge are identified that preclude strong conclusions regarding a preference for errorless treatments over methods that prioritise difficult retrieval practice. We offer recommendations for future research aimed at a strong test of errorless learning treatments, which involves direct comparison with methods where retrieval practice effects are maximised for long-term gains.
PMID: 22247957 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
- The Special Issue Spotter
We trawl the world's journals so you don't have to: Mental Time Travel: Social Psychological Perspectives on a Fundamental Human Capacity (European Journal of Social Psychology). Cyberbullying: Development, consequences, risk and protective factors...
- Neuropsychology Abstract Of The Day: Traumatic Brain Injury (tbi)
Bayley MT, Tate R, Douglas JM, Turkstra LS, Ponsford J, Stergiou-Kita M, Kua A, & Bragge P. (2014). INCOG Guidelines for Cognitive Rehabilitation Following Traumatic Brain Injury: Methods and Overview. Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation, 29(4), 290-306....
- Neuropsychology Abstract Of The Day: Memory Formation
Visualizing long-term memory formation in two neurons of the Drosophila brain Science. 2012 Feb 10;335(6069):678-85 Chen CC, Wu JK, Lin HW, Pai TP, Fu TF, Wu CL, Tully T, Chiang AS Abstract Long-term memory (LTM) depends on the synthesis of new proteins....
- Sensecam
Microsoft's research project: SenseCam SenseCam and memory functioning Here is a recently published research study: SenseCam improves memory for recent events and quality of life in a patient with memory retrieval difficulties. Memory. 2011 Sep 26;...
- Neuropsychology Abstract Of The Day: Cognitive Rehab In Ugandan Childhood Malaria Survivors
Bangirana P, Giordani B, John CC, Page C, Opoka RO, & Boivin MJ (2009). Immediate Neuropsychological and Behavioral Benefits of Computerized Cognitive Rehabilitation in Ugandan Pediatric Cerebral Malaria Survivors. Journal of Development and Behavioral...