The impact of Eysenck's extraversion-introversion personality dimension on prospective memory

Prospective memory (PM) is memory for future events. PM is a developing area of research (e.g., Brandimonte, Einstein & McDaniel, 1996) with recent work linking personality types and their utilisation of PM (Goschke & Kuhl, 1996; Searleman, 1996). The present study compared 28 extraverts and 28 introverts on their short- and long-term prospective memory using the Prospective Memory Scale developed by Hannon, Adams, Harrington, Fries-Dias & Gibson (1995). The main finding was that extraverts reported significantly fewer errors on short- and long-term PM than introverts, and this difference could not be explained in terms of the number of strategies used to support prospective remembering. These findings are discussed in relation to differences between the personality types

Subjective ratings of prospective memory deficits in chronic heavy alcohol users

Chronic alcohol abuse has a detrimental effect on retrospective memory. Less is known about its putative effects on everyday memory. This study looked at self-ratings of prospective memory (PM) (memory for future events). After controlling for other drug and strategy use, chronic heavy alcohol users showed global impairments in PM, when compared to matched controls. The underlying mechanisms are discussed

The Synergistic Impact of Excessive Alcohol Drinking and Cigarette Smoking upon Prospective Memory

The independent use of excessive amounts of alcohol or persistent cigarette smoking have been found to have a deleterious impact upon Prospective Memory (PM: remembering future intentions and activities), although to date, the effect of their concurrent use upon PM is yet to be explored. The present study investigated the impact of the concurrent use of drinking excessive amounts of alcohol and smoking cigarettes (a “Polydrug” group) in comparison to the combined effect of the single use of these substances upon PM. The study adopted a single factorial independent groups design. The Cambridge Prospective Memory Test (CAMPROMPT) is a test of both time-based and event-based PM and was used here to measure PM. The CAMPROMPT was administered to 125 adults; an excessive alcohol user group (n = 40), a group of smokers who drink very little alcohol (n = 20), a combined user group (the “Polydrug” group) who drink excessively and smoke cigarettes (n = 40) and a non-drinker/low alcohol consumption control group (n = 25). The main findings revealed that the Polydrug users recalled significantly fewer time-based PM tasks than both excessive alcohol users p < 0.001 and smokers p = 0.013. Polydrug users (mean = 11.47) also remembered significantly fewer event-based PM tasks than excessive alcohol users p < 0.001 and smokers p = 0.013. With regards to the main aim of the study, the polydrug users exhibited significantly greater impaired time-based PM than the combined effect of single excessive alcohol users and cigarette smokers p = 0.033. However, no difference was observed between polydrug users and the combined effect of single excessive alcohol users and cigarette smokers in event-based PM p = 0.757. These results provide evidence that concurrent (polydrug) use of these two substances has a synergistic effect in terms of deficits upon time-based PM. The observation that combined excessive drinking and cigarette smoking leads to a greater impairment in time-based PM may be of paramount importance, given the key role PM plays in everyday independent living

Everyday memory deficits associated with anabolic-androgenic steroid use in regular gymnasium users

Background: This study compared a group of 47 regular gym users who take androgenic-anabolic steroids (the AAS group) as part of their recreational sport, with a group of 48 regular gym users who do not use AAS (the Non-AAS group) on self-reports of Retrospective memory (RM), executive function (EF) and prospective memory (PM), which are all critical to everyday remembering. Methods: All participants were tested using an on-line Survey Monkey method. The Prospective and Retrospective Memory Questionnaire (PRMQ) assessed everyday RM and PM deficits and the Executive Function Questionnaire (EFQ) assessed self-reported problems in EF. A drug-use questionnaire and a mood questionnaire were also administered Results: After observing no between-group differences on alcohol or mood, omitting anyone who drank excessively or had drank recently, smoked or reported using any illegal drug, three one-way ANCOVAs (controlling for age) revealed that the ASS group reported significantly more RM deficits, EF deficits, and PM deficits, when compared with the NonASS group. Conclusion: It was concluded that AAS use in a recreational sports context is associated with RM, EF and PM deficits, indicating that AAS use may damage everyday remembering

'Smoking to forget' : the impact of prolonged smoking on prospective memory

Prospective memory (PM) refers to remembering to remember and is essential for everyday living. Although recent research has focused upon PM deficits associated with recreational drug use, very little research to date has focused on smoking and PM. This thesis had four aims. Firstly, to verify whether PM deficits are associated with prolonged smoking could be replicated. Secondly, to observe whether such smoking-related deficits extended to objective measures of PM. Thirdly, to assess what effect, if any, abstinence from smoking had upon PM. Fourthly, to ascertain whether there was any difference in PM performance between regular (daily) smokers and social (binge) smokers. Participants were drawn primarily from undergraduates in North East universities. Studies 1–3 in this thesis studied self-reports and objective measures of PM in smokers, previous smokers and non-smokers. Across all three studies no consistent findings were observed on self-reported PM reflecting deficits associated with smoking, but smokers performed worse on the objective measures of PM than non-smokers, with previous smokers falling between the other two groups – suggesting that smokers’ PM is impaired and that those who stopped smoking appeared to recover a proportion of their PM function. Study 4 revealed smokers’ poor performance on objective tasks was not confounded by their being in a state of withdrawal. Studies 5 and 6 explored whether any difference was observed between ‘social’ (binge) smokers and ‘regular’ (daily) smokers on PM performance. Studies 5 and 6 found no difference between social and regular smokers on a video-based, nor a real-world PM task. Overall, it was concluded that self-reports of PM do not provide consistent findings (first aim), lowered PM performance on objective measures are associated with prolonged smoking (second aim), previous smokers show some recovery of PM function (third aim) and that the pattern of smoking does not affect PM performance in smokers’ (fourth aim).EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

The effect of cannabis use on prospective memory processes in young adults

Remembering to perform an intended task at the appropriate time (prospective memory) is an important aspect of memory functioning in the real world. Previous research has suggested that recreational drug use has a detrimental effect upon this ability. To date relatively few studies have investigated the effect of cannabis use on prospective memory performance. In addressing this hiatus, the present thesis extended this initial research to encompass three aims. Firstly, the thesis evaluated the psychometric properties of an objective prospective memory video procedure in order to mitigate criticisms associated with the use of self-report assessment of memory failures in many of these initial studies. Secondly, the thesis documents a series of quasi-experimental studies comparing cannabis users and non-users in order to examine the effect of cannabis use on prospective memory. Finally, the thesis explored the nature of the deficits observed in an attempt to better understand the neurobiological vulnerability of the cognitive processes underpinning prospective memory to the psychopharmacological effects of cannabis. The findings across all of the studies documented suggested that cannabis use, even in relatively light users with short duration of use, has a detrimental effect on prospective memory in young adults. In addition, the findings presented suggested that the deficits observed in current cannabis users recover on cessation of cannabis use and that time-based prospective memory was more vulnerable to the effects of cannabis use than event-based prospective memory. Furthermore, the findings presented suggested that these deficits arise as a consequence of problems in retrieval of the intentions rather than problems in their encoding and that these retrieval problems arise as a consequence of failures in cue identification rather than problems retrieving the task to be performed. The findings presented found no evidence that the prospective memory deficits observed were related to the number of joints smoked per week, duration of use, estimated lifetime consumption or to the age at which cannabis use commenced. Although the scale of the deficits appeared trivial with cannabis users recalling, on average, only two items fewer than nonusers, the magnitude of the effect was moderate suggesting practical significance, particularly as the deficits were observed in independent cohorts comprising cannabis users with light use and relatively short duration of use.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Self-reported memory and executive function in adult non-clinical hoarders

Hoarding is the excessive acquisition of, and failure to discard of, large numbers of items, leading to personal distress. Impairments on memory and executive functions have been systematically associated with hoarding behavior, predominantly focusing upon clinical (mainly middle-aged-elderly) patients with hoarding and/or PTSD. We were interested in hoarding-related memory and executive problems in younger non-clinical hoarders or non-hoarders, based on their Saving Inventory-Revised scores. In total, 113 young adults (aged 18–35 years) were assigned to either a hoarder group (N = 40) or non-hoarder group (N = 73) determined by their scores on the Saving Inventory-Revised (SI-R). Working memory (WM) and inhibition control (IC) were measured using the Adult Executive Functioning Inventory (ADEXI) and the Dysexecutive Questionnaire Revised (DEX-R) measured general executive function (EF). The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale measured anxiety and depression. After controlling for gender and anxiety, the analysis revealed that the hoarders reported significantly more problems than the non-hoarders on both the IC and general EF. There was no significant between-group difference on the WM sub-scale ADEXI. Self-reported deficits in IC and EF are associated with hoarding behavior. The IC deficits cold explain hoarders’ inability to resist urges to buy, and general EF deficits suggest other domains are involved

The Acute and Chronic Cognitive Effects of a Sage Extract: A Randomized, Placebo Controlled Study in Healthy Humans

The sage (Salvia) plant contains a host of terpenes and phenolics which interact with mechanisms pertinent to brain function and improve aspects of cognitive performance. However, previous studies in humans have looked at these phytochemicals in isolation and following acute consumption only. A preclinical in vivo study in rodents, however, has demonstrated improved cognitive outcomes following 2-week consumption of CogniviaTM, a proprietary extract of both Salvia officinalis polyphenols and Salvia lavandulaefolia terpenoids, suggesting that a combination of phytochemicals from sage might be more efficacious over a longer period of time. The current study investigated the impact of this sage combination on cognitive functions in humans with acute and chronic outcomes. Participants (n = 94, 25 M, 69 F, 30&ndash;60 years old) took part in this randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel groups design where a comprehensive array of cognitions were assessed 120- and 240-min post-dose acutely and following 29-day supplementation with either 600 mg of the sage combination or placebo. A consistent, significant benefit of the sage combination was observed throughout working memory and accuracy task outcome measures (specifically on the Corsi Blocks, Numeric Working Memory, and Name to Face Recall tasks) both acutely (i.e., changes within day 1 and day 29) and chronically (i.e., changes between day 1 to day 29). These results fall slightly outside of those reported previously with single Salvia administration, and therefore, a follow-up study with the single and combined extracts is required to confirm how these effects differ within the same cohort

Patient perceptions of cognitive screening in adult audiology services: A qualitative exploration

Introduction: Both hearing loss and dementia are extremely pervasive, especially amongst older adults. As hearing loss and dementia have common symptoms, misdiagnosis can be common, and failure to address hearing loss for people with dementia could accelerate cognitive decline. The timely detection of cognitive impairment is clinically important, however the use of cognitive assessments in adult audiology services is a hotly debated topic. Although the early detection of cognitive impairment may improve patient care and quality of life, patients attending audiology services for hearing assessment might not expect to be asked questions about their cognition. The aim of this study was to qualitatively explore patient and public perspectives and preferences on the use of cognitive screening within adult audiology services. Methods: Quantitative and qualitative data were gathered from an online survey and a workshop. Descriptive statistics were applied to quantitative data and an inductive thematic analysis was performed on free-text responses. Results: In total, 90 respondents completed the online survey. Overall, cognitive screening in audiology was reported to be acceptable to participants (92%). A reflexive thematic analysis of the qualitative data reported four themes: i) knowledge of cognitive impairment and screening, ii) implementation of cognitive screening, iii) impact of screening on patient and iv) contributions to future care and research. A workshop was held with five participants to discuss and reflect on the findings in more detail. Discussion: Participants found cognitive screening to be acceptable within adult audiology services providing audiologists had suitable training, and sufficient explanation and justification were provided. However, implications such as additional time and staff resource and supplementary training for audiologists would be required to address participants concerns