Memory for Self-Performed Actions in Individuals with Asperger Syndrome

Memory for action is enhanced if individuals are allowed to perform the corresponding movements, compared to when they simply listen to them (enactment effect). Previous studies have shown that individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) have difficulties with processes involving the self, such as autobiographical memories and self performed actions. The present study aimed at assessing memory for action in Asperger Syndrome (AS). We investigated whether adults with AS would benefit from the enactment effect when recalling a list of previously performed items vs. items that were only visually and verbally experienced through three experimental tasks (Free Recall, Old/New Recognition and Source Memory). The results showed that while performance on Recognition and Source Memory tasks was preserved in individuals with AS, the enactment effect for self-performed actions was not consistently present, as revealed by the lower number of performed actions being recalled on the Free Recall test, as compared to adults with typical development. Subtle difficulties in encoding specific motor and proprioceptive signals during action execution in individuals with AS might affect retrieval of relevant personal episodic information. These disturbances might be associated to an impaired action monitoring system

Episodic Memory in Detoxified Alcoholics: Contribution of Grey Matter Microstructure Alteration

Even though uncomplicated alcoholics may likely have episodic memory deficits, discrepancies exist regarding to the integrity of brain regions that underlie this function in healthy subjects. Possible relationships between episodic memory and 1) brain microstructure assessed by magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), 2) brain volumes assessed by voxel-based morphometry (VBM) were investigated in uncomplicated, detoxified alcoholics

[Investigation of Memory Performance With a Cued-recall Test in Alzheimers-disease]

This study was aimed at comparing the memory performance in a group of normal elderly controls and a group of patients in the first stages of probable Alzheimer's disease, with a paradigm including controlled encoding and enhanced cued recall (adapted from Grober and Buschke, 1987). The use of such experimental conditions allows a perfect discrimination between normal controls and AD patients: patients' performances show a deficit of encoding, and an impairment of free recall (poor recall and lack of recall consistency between trials); moreover, AD patients, unlike normal aged subjects, show little if any sensitivity to categorical cues, and produce a great number of extra-list intrusions; discriminability at recognition is impaired. At the same time, the data reveal a relatively large degree of heterogeneity in AD patients

Retest effects and cognitive decline in longitudinal follow-up of patients with early HD

To assess the natural progression of cognitive impairment in Huntington's disease (HD) and to reveal factors that may mask this progression