M emory Notebook Training in a Case of Severe Amnesia: Generalising from Paired Associate Learning to Real Life

Abstract

A severely amnesic patient was trained to use a notebook as a record for daily events in an attempt to reduce his tendency to ask questions repeatedly. In the first stage of the study, a novel paired associate learning procedure was used as a means of training Mr S to become reliant on a notebook for information he could not remember. This notebook training incorporated a comparison of errorless and errorful methods of learning. Mr S learned successfully using the notebook and showed a clear advantage for the errorless method. In the second stage of the study, the errorless learning procedure was used as a means of training Mr S to look up facts about his daily routine. Comparison of his behaviour before and after the diary training indicated a reduction in his repetitive questioning about daily events. Subsequent visits to Mr S indicate continued use of the notebook. The study shows how artificial learning procedures can be adapted to achieve a practical goal.