Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 9, 2026
06:23
The 4 Mountains Test: A Short Test of Spatial Memory with High Sensitivity for the Diagnosis of Pre-dementia Alzheimer's Disease
Published on: October 13, 2016
Temporal sequence learning in healthy aging and amnestic mild cognitive impairment
Eva Pirogovsky1, Heather M Holden, Cecily Jenkins
1SDSU-UCSD Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego, California 92120, USA.
Experimental Aging Research
|July 24, 2013
Summary
Temporal sequence learning declines with normal aging, but this decline is significantly greater in individuals with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI). These learning deficits in aMCI may impact daily activities and increase Alzheimer's disease risk.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Psychology
- Gerontology
Background:
- Temporal sequence learning is vital for episodic memory and relies on temporal and frontal lobe functions.
- Amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) and normal aging can affect these brain regions.
- Investigating temporal sequence learning differences is crucial for understanding cognitive decline.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare temporal sequence learning abilities across young adults, cognitively normal older adults, and individuals with aMCI.
- To determine if aMCI is associated with specific deficits in temporal sequence learning.
- To assess the impact of normal aging on temporal sequence learning.
Main Methods:
- A computerized radial eight-arm maze task was used to assess temporal sequence learning.
- Participants reproduced sequences by placing numbered markers on maze arms.
- Learning was measured by the number of trials required to achieve error-free performance or a 15-trial limit.
Main Results:
- Individuals with aMCI required significantly more trials to learn the sequence than older adults.
- Older adults needed more trials than young adults to learn the sequence.
- Both aMCI and older adult groups made more initial errors than young adults, with no significant difference between the aMCI and older adult groups.
Conclusions:
- Temporal sequence learning deficits are identifiable in individuals with aMCI.
- These deficits can impair daily functioning and episodic memory.
- While normal aging impacts temporal sequence learning, the decline is more pronounced in aMCI, indicating higher Alzheimer's disease risk.
Related Concept Videos
01:22Dementia l: Introduction
Dementia is an acquired, progressive syndrome characterized by a decline in multiple cognitive domains severe enough to impair daily functioning and reduce independence. Although memory loss is a central feature, the diagnosis requires additional deficits involving language, executive function, visuospatial skills, judgment, calculation, or abstract reasoning. These cognitive impairments reflect underlying neurodegenerative or vascular processes that gradually disrupt neuronal networks...
01:13Amnesia
Amnesia is a condition marked by long-term memory loss, which impairs the ability to recall past events or create new memories.
The severity and duration of memory loss vary depending on the type and underlying cause. Amnesia is classified into two main types: retrograde and anterograde.
Retrograde amnesia is marked by the loss of memories formed before the onset of the condition. Patients may recall distant past events but often forget those occurring shortly before the incident.
Anterograde...
The severity and duration of memory loss vary depending on the type and underlying cause. Amnesia is classified into two main types: retrograde and anterograde.
Retrograde amnesia is marked by the loss of memories formed before the onset of the condition. Patients may recall distant past events but often forget those occurring shortly before the incident.
Anterograde...
01:29Alzheimer Disease l: Introduction
Alzheimer disease is a chronic, progressive, and irreversible neurodegenerative disorder and the most common cause of dementia in older adults. It leads to gradual neuronal loss, causing cognitive decline, behavioral changes, and loss of functional independence.Risk Factors and EtiologyThe disease is multifactorial. Age is the strongest risk factor, with prevalence doubling every 5 years after age 65. Genetic factors include mutations in genes such as APP, PSEN1, and PSEN2, which are associated...
01:26Alzheimer's Disease: Overview
Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a continually advancing neurodegenerative disorder, distinguished by escalating memory loss, cognitive dysfunction, and dementia. The disease unfolds in three stages: preclinical, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and dementia. Its onset is insidious, and the progression gradual, with the cause not well explained by other disorders.
The clinical diagnosis of AD hinges on the presence of memory and other cognitive impairments. Biomarkers, such as changes in Aβ and tau...
The clinical diagnosis of AD hinges on the presence of memory and other cognitive impairments. Biomarkers, such as changes in Aβ and tau...
01:30Cognitive Development During Adulthood
Cognitive development continues throughout adulthood, undergoing significant shifts across early, middle, and late stages. Individual transition occurs from adolescent idealism to pragmatic and adaptable thinking in early adulthood. During this period, individuals learn to integrate personal beliefs with the recognition that other perspectives are equally valid. Exposure to the complexities of modern society, diverse experiences, and higher education contribute to this adaptive thought process,...
01:30Dementia
Dementia is a collective term for cognitive disorders primarily affecting memory, thinking, and reasoning. It is not a specific disease but a syndrome, with Alzheimer's disease being the most common cause, accounting for approximately 60-80% of cases. Other types include vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, and frontotemporal dementia. Dementia affects millions worldwide, particularly older adults, though it is not a normal part of aging.
The progression of dementia is generally gradual.
The progression of dementia is generally gradual.