Item – Theses Canada

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OCLC number
1019461205
Link(s) to full text
LAC copy
Author
Newsome, Rachel.
Title
Attentional Selection and Reduced Interference Improve Visual Short-Term Memory in Mild Cognitive Impairment.
Degree
M.A. -- University of Toronto, 2011
Publisher
Ottawa : Library and Archives Canada = Bibliothèque et Archives Canada, 2012.
Description
1 online resource
Notes
Includes bibliographical references.
Abstract
<?Pub Inc> Visual short-term memory (VSTM) is a vital cognitive ability, allowing us to hold online the contents of visual awareness. Healthy older adults have reduced VSTM capacity compared to young adults; however recent evidence suggests that their performance may be improved by the use of a retroactive cue ("retro-cue"). The retro-cue reduces interference from irrelevant items within VSTM. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) patients have reduced VSTM performance, compared to healthy older adults. Here, we examined whether the use of a retro-cue would increase VSTM capacity in MCI patients. By presenting a retro-cue after a to-be remembered array, we direct attention to the to-be probed location, which reduces interference from other items that are no longer relevant. The present findings suggest that VSTM capacity per se is not compromised in MCI patients, but these patients may be more susceptible to the effects of interference.
ISBN
9780494766965
0494766964
9780494766965