Article

Among individuals with episodic memory impairments, trial-and-error learning is
less successful than when errors are avoided. This "errorless learning advantage"
has been replicated numerous times, but its neurocognitive mechanism is
uncertain, with existing evidence pointing to both medial temporal lobe (MTL) and
frontal lobe (FL) involvement. To test the relative contribution of MTL and FL
functioning to the errorless learning advantage, 51 healthy older adults were
pre-experimentally assigned to one of four groups based on their
neuropsychological test performance: Low MTL-Low FL, Low MTL-High FL, High
MTL-Low FL, High MTL-High FL. Participants learned two word lists under errorless
learning conditions, and two word lists under errorful learning conditions, and
memory was tested via free recall, cued recall, and source recognition.
Performance on all three tests was better for those with High relative to Low MTL
functioning. An errorless learning advantage was found in free and cued recall,
in cued recall marginally more so for those with Low than High MTL functioning.
Participants with Low MTL functioning were also more likely to misclassify
learning errors as target words. Overall, these results are consistent with a MTL
locus of the errorless learning advantage. The results are discussed in terms of
the multi-componential nature of neuropsychological tests and the impact of
demographic and mood variables on cognitive functioning.

Langue : ANGLAIS