Memory Modulation in the Classroom: Selective Enhancement of College Examination Performance by Arousal Induced after Lecture

Laboratory studies examining moderate physiological or emotional arousal induced after learning indicate that it enhances memory consolidation. Yet, no studies have yet examined this effect in an applied context. As such, arousal was induced after a college lecture and its selective effects were examined on later exam performance. Participants were divided into two groups who either watched a neutral video clip (n = 66) or an arousing video clip (n = 70) after lecture in a psychology course. The final examination occurred two weeks after the experimental manipulation. Only performance on the group of final exam items that covered material from the manipulated lecture were significantly different between groups. Other metrics, such as the midterm examination and the total final examination score, did not differ between groups. The results indicate that post-lecture arousal selectively increased the later retrieval of lecture material, despite the availability of the material for study before and after the manipulation. The results reinforce the role of post-learning arousal on memory consolidation processes, expanding the literature to include a real-world learning context

Muscle Tension Induced after Learning Enhances Long-Term Narrative and Visual Memory in Healthy Older Adults

Arousing events are better remembered than mundane events. Indeed, manipulation of arousal, such as by muscle tension, can influence memory even when it occurs shortly after learning. Indeed, our founding study showed this approach can raise delayed memory performance in older adults to a level comparable to that of unaided young adults. Yet, systematic studies, especially those investigating different modalities or types of memory, have not been done. This study investigated the effects of a brief bout of isometric exercise via handgrip on narrative and visuospatial episodic memory in healthy elders. Forty-seven participants completed the Logical Memory subtest of the Wechsler Memory Scales III (LM) and the Benton Visual Retention Test (BVRT), followed alternately by no treatment and by moderately squeezing a sand-filled latex ball for 1-min (counterbalanced order and test forms). Isometric exercise significantly increased both positive and negative affect ratings. Retention was tested 2 weeks later. Delayed recall and recognition of LM was enhanced by arousal relative to control, as was recognition of the BVRT. The results extend past findings that muscle tension induced after learning modulates memory consolidation, extending findings in elders to suggest that a simple form of isometric exercise can have practical effects, such as aiding memory for stories and images

The relationship of the clinician-rated Functional Status Interview with executive functioning

Self/informant-report and performance-based instruments are typically used to measure activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs). Minimal attention has focused on clinician-rated measures. Executive functioning (EF) contributes significantly to functional independence, and the validity of functional status measures has been examined through its relationship to EF scores. The current study used a clinical sample of older U.S. Veterans who completed a neurocognitive evaluation (n = 266). The psychometric properties of a novel, clinician-rated Functional Status Interview (FSI) and its relationship to EF measures, including the Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) and Trail Making Test (TMT-A and TMT-B), were explored. Two FSI factors (IADL and ADL) emerged with all items loading strongly onto the subscales as predicted. EF correlated strongly with IADL but had small to medium correlations with ADL. In regression models that controlled for sociodemographic variables, all EF measures uniquely contributed to the IADL model, but only FAB and TMT-A contributed to the model for ADL. Notably, results may have been limited by prominent floor effects on TMT-B. Overall, the FSI is a promising measure with demonstrated content validity. Thus, there is preliminary support for clinicians to incorporate multiple sources of information to rate functional status using the FSI