Department of Radiation Sciences, Diagnostic Radiology, Umeå University, Sweden.
Danish Research Centre for Magnetic Resonance, Centre for Functional and Diagnostic Imaging and Research, Copenhagen University Hospital Hvidovre, Denmark.
J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2021 Mar 14;76(4):681-691. doi: 10.1093/geronb/gbaa216.
Episodic memory is age-sensitive but can be strengthened by targeted training interventions. The method of loci (MoL) is a classic mnemonic which if successfully implemented greatly improves memory performance. We developed and investigated the effects of a MoL training program implemented in a smart phone application (app) with the aim of studying usage of the application, training effect and its modifiability by age, predictors for MoL proficiency, transfer effects to a face-name memory task, and perceived benefit in everyday memory.
A total of 359 adults participated. Instruction and training of the MoL, transfer test (face-name paired associates cued recall task), and surveys were performed in an in-house developed app.
The app interested people across the adult life span. Older adults practiced the most, whereas younger and young-old participants showed the highest level of MoL proficiency. Level of proficiency was modulated by amount of practice, but in the oldest participants this effect was less pronounced. Greater self-rated health was associated with higher level of proficiency. No transfer effect was observed. Among those who answered the survey, about half expressed that MoL training had benefitted memory in their everyday life.
App-based memory training in the MoL can be delivered successfully via an app across the adult life span. Level of performance reached in training is variable but generally high, and mainly influenced by amount of training and age of the participants. Our data suggest plasticity across the life span, but to a lesser degree for adults between 70 and 90 years.
情景记忆随年龄增长而敏感，但可以通过有针对性的训练干预来增强。位置记忆法（MoL）是一种经典的记忆技巧，如果成功实施，将大大提高记忆表现。我们开发并研究了一种在智能手机应用程序（app）中实施的 MoL 训练计划的效果，旨在研究应用程序的使用情况、训练效果及其受年龄影响的可变性、MoL 熟练程度的预测因素、对人脸记忆任务的迁移效果以及在日常记忆中感知到的益处。
共有 359 名成年人参与。MoL 的指导和训练、转移测试（人脸-名字配对联想线索回忆任务）以及调查均在内部开发的应用程序中进行。
该应用程序吸引了整个成年期的人群。老年人练习最多，而年轻和年轻老年人的 MoL 熟练程度最高。熟练程度受到练习量的调节，但在最年长的参与者中，这种效果不那么明显。自我报告的健康状况越好，熟练程度越高。没有观察到转移效果。在回答调查的人中，大约一半人表示 MoL 训练对他们的日常生活记忆有帮助。
通过应用程序可以成功地在整个成年期提供基于应用程序的 MoL 记忆训练。在训练中达到的表现水平是可变的，但通常较高，主要受训练量和参与者年龄的影响。我们的数据表明整个生命周期存在可塑性，但对于 70 至 90 岁的成年人来说，这种可塑性较小。
