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Working Memory Training for Older Participants: A Control Group Training Regimen and Initial Intellectual Functioning Assessment
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Trial-and-error learning improves source memory among young and older adults.

Andrée-Ann Cyr1, Nicole D Anderson

  • 1Kunin-Lunenfeld Applied Research Institute-Baycrest, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

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Trial-and-error learning enhances memory in older adults by boosting source memory, particularly when errors aid conceptual elaboration. This contrasts with previous findings, suggesting errors can be beneficial under specific learning conditions.

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Area of Science:

  • Cognitive Psychology
  • Neuroscience of Aging
  • Human Memory

Background:

  • Trial-and-error learning may impair memory in older adults, unlike in younger adults.
  • Previous research focused on perceptual errors, limiting understanding of conceptual error effects.
  • Older adults often struggle with spontaneous memory elaboration during encoding.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if generating conceptual errors during learning improves source memory in older adults.
  • To compare the effects of trial-and-error versus errorless learning on memory across age groups.
  • To determine if conceptual error production aids memory elaboration for older adults.

Main Methods:

  • Two studies examined source memory in young and older adults using semantic category cues.
  • Participants generated exemplars with or without errors.
  • Study 1 used a process dissociation procedure; Study 2 directly assessed source memory.

Main Results:

  • Trial-and-error learning yielded lower familiarity but higher recollection memory compared to errorless learning (Study 1).
  • This recollection benefit from trial-and-error learning was more pronounced in older adults.
  • Trial-and-error learning improved source memory, especially for older adults (Study 2).

Conclusions:

  • Generating conceptual errors during learning can enhance source memory, particularly for older adults.
  • Trial-and-error learning benefits memory when errors facilitate semantic elaboration.
  • This suggests older adults can gain memorial advantages from strategic error production, aiding encoding.