Implicit Processes Enhance Cognitive Abilities in Amnestic-Mild Cognitive

Implicit Processes Enhance Cognitive Abilities in Amnestic-Mild Cognitive Impairment Gillian Rowe 1, 2, Angela K. Troyer 1, Kelly J. Murphy 1, 2, Lynn Hasher 2, 3, & Renee Biss 2 1 3 2 Alzheimer’s Disease International Toronto March 27, 2011 CONFIDENTIAL Pg 1

Acknowledgements Brian Richards Guy Proulx Morris Goldenberg Medical Research Endowment Pg 2

Conflict of Interest Disclosure Gillian Rowe, Ph. D Angela Troyer, Ph. D Kelly Murphy, Ph. D Lynn Hasher, Ph. D Renee Biss, M. A. Has no real or apparent conflicts of interest to report. Pg 3

Background and Purpose • Pattern of impaired explicit and intact implicit memory observed in individuals with a. MCI • Can be thought of as conscious and unconscious • Research/interventions often target impaired abilities • May be effortful and possibly distressing • Instead, can we use implicit processes to influence explicit • Enhance explicit without effort or awareness Pg 4

Background and Purpose • Previously shown with healthy older adults Rowe et al. , 2006 • Known to be more susceptible to distraction than younger • Evidence they pick up irrelevant information implicitly • Use that information for later task if it becomes relevant • Without awareness Pg 5

Background and Purpose • People with a. MCI also susceptible to distraction • Would same effect be found? • If so, possible opportunities for intervention in a. MCI • Everyday memory • Autobiographical memory • Prospective memory Pg 6

Method • Used adaptation of earlier work • Participants – 22 a. MCI – 22 matched healthy controls • Same/different judgments of consecutive stream of line drawings. Ignore letter strings EMBLEM LIVER HFXVV LOTTERY Pg 7

Method • 10 min filler - computerized Corsi Block task Pg 8

Method Word-Fragment Completion Task E___ER SU__LY WI__ER LI__R A__IT_ON E___EM ERASER 30 word fragments SUPPLY 10 words told to ignore WINNER 10 not Iseen earlier L VER MB TION 10 Aeasy. I fillers EMBLEM Say first thing came into head __AM_ STAMP L_T_E_Y LOTTERY _R_V_ GRAVY Pg 9

Method Word-Fragment Completion Task E___ER ERASER SU__LY SUPPLY WI__ER WINNER LI__R LIVER A__IT_ON AMBITION E___EM EMBLEM __AM_ STAMP L_T_E_Y LOTTERY _R_V_ GRAVY Pg 10

Results More words fragments solved for previously seen words Significantly more for a. MCI group compared to controls Pg 11

Results Priming • Correlation between implicit and explicit memory (a. MCI) CBT Pg 12

How can this be applied to everyday and autobiographical memory? • Similar paradigm using everyday situation/materials • Virtual shopping mall • Explicit task: list of items to buy • Test for irrelevant information Pg 13

Acknowledgements Brian Richards Guy Proulx Morris Goldenberg Medical Research Endowment Pg 14