Effects on memory of verbal labeling for hand movements in persons with Alzheimer's disease

In which case is working memory for movements affected by verbal interference? Evidence from the verbal description of movement

Current perspectives on whether verbal interference affects working memory for movements have not yet reached a consensus. This study explored the causes of this controversy to reveal the relation between working memory for movements and the phonological loop. Experiment 1 explored whether the verbal description of movement moderated the effect of verbal interference (articulatory suppression) on working memory for movements. Verbal interference only affected working memory for easy-to-describe movements (lower accuracy). Experiment 2 excluded the interpretation of familiarity to the controversy and the effect of familiarity on the results of Experiment 1. Experiment 3 verified the results of Experiment 1 with another form of verbal interference, i.e., presenting irrelevant words visually. These three experiments suggest that the phonological loop is not recruited for processing working memory for movements in nature, but the two may interact through the verbal description prestored in the long-term memory. Thus, the current study provides a certain level of support for the separable movement-based subsystem hypothesis (Smyth, M. M., Pearson, N. A., & Pendleton, L. R. (1988). Movement and working memory: Patterns and positions in space. The Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology Section A: Human Experimental Psychology, 40(3), 497-514. doi:10.1080/02724988843000041).

Perceptions of a cognitive rehabilitation group by older people living with cognitive impairment and their caregivers: A qualitative interview study

Cognitive rehabilitation has been developed to improve quality of life, activities of daily living and mood for people with cognitive impairment, but the voice of people with cognitive impairment has been underrepresented. This study aimed to understand the experience of people living with cognitive impairment, as well as their caregivers who took part in a cognitive rehabilitation intervention programme. Twelve individuals with cognitive impairment and 15 caregivers participated in individual qualitative interviews. The interview data were analysed in three steps: 1) familiarisation of the transcripts; 2) identification of themes; 3) re-interpretation, refinement and integration of themes with methodological auditors. Both participants living with cognitive impairment and caregivers valued the comfortable environment with friendly, caring and supportive group leaders who taught practical tips and strategies. The participants living with cognitive impairment enjoyed socialising with like others. Caregivers benefited from learning about memory problems and sharing their challenges with other caregivers. The participants living with cognitive impairment emphasised the benefits of relational and practical aspects, whereas the caregivers valued the informational and emotional support. In conclusion, both participants living with cognitive impairment and caregivers found the cognitive rehabilitation group useful.

Does an Instruction of a Verbal Labeling Strategy for Hand Movements Improve General Motor Coordination as Well as the Gestural Performance?

This multiple-case study investigated whether an instruction of a verbal labeling strategy could enhance developmental coordination disorder (DCD) as well as developmental dyspraxia (DD) on the basis of relative changes in the Movement Assessment Battery for Children (MABC) Performance Test scores and the Kaufmann Hand Movement Test (KHMT) scores. The authors used a case formulation approach and taught 4 children with DCD during an 8-week intervention period. During the last half of the intervention, the authors additionally instructed the verbal labeling strategy for hand movements. Visual inspection of plotted time-series data from the MABC and the KHMT showed discordant trend lines in 3 children and concordant lines in 1 child. The results indicated that the verbal labeling strategy could be useful for temporary improvement of DD but not for DCD and that DCD and DD might not be directly related.