Memory impairment is prevalent in multiple sclerosis (MS). Retrieval practice is a powerful memory technique whereby retrieving information (quizzing oneself) leads to better memory than restudying. In a within-subjects experiment, 12 memory-impaired MS patients encoded verbal paired associates (VPAs) through massed restudy (MR), spaced restudy (SR), or retrieval practice (RP). Half of VPAs were tested after short delay (30 minutes) and half after long delay (one week). RP robustly improved memory more than restudy. Short delay: MR=15.6%, SR=27.1%, RP=72.9%. Long delay: MR=1.0%, SR=4.2%, RP=24.0%. RP was the best memory technique for nearly all patients after both short and long delays.
ThorntonARazN. Memory impairment in multiple sclerosis: A quantitative review. Neuropsychology1997; 11: 357–366.
2.
das NairRFergusonHStarkDL. Memory rehabilitation for people with multiple sclerosis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev2012; 3: CD008754.
3.
RoedigerHLButlerAC. The critical role of retrieval practice in long-term retention. Trends Cogn Sci2011; 15: 20–27.
4.
KarpickeJDRoedigerHL. The critical importance of retrieval for learning. Science2008; 319: 966–968.
5.
SumowskiJFChiaravallotiNDelucaJ. Retrieval practice improves memory in multiple sclerosis: Clinical application of the testing effect. Neuropsychology2010; 24: 267–272.
6.
SumowskiJFWoodHGChiaravallotiN. Retrieval practice: A simple strategy for improving memory after traumatic brain injury. J Int Neuropsychol Soc2010; 16: 1147–1150.
7.
McDonaldWICompstonAEdanG. Recommended diagnostic criteria for multiple sclerosis: Guidelines from the international panel on the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. Ann of Neurol2001; 50: 121–127.
CepedaNJPashlerHVulE. Distributed practice in verbal recall tasks: A review and quantitative synthesis. Psychol Bull2006; 132: 354–380.
10.
MorrisCDBransfordJCFranksJJ. Levels of processing versus transfer appropriate processing. J Verb Learn Verb Be1977; 16: 519–533.
11.
PrinceSEDaselaarSMCabezaR. Neural correlates of relational memory: Successful encoding and retrieval of semantic and perceptual associations. J Neurosci2005; 25: 1203–1210.
