Use of an experimental language acquisition paradigm for standardized neuropsychological assessment of learning: A pilot study in young and older adults

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Despite the numerous episodic memory tasks used in neuropsychological assessment, relatively few learning tasks are available, with methods lacking the complexity and sophistication to capture very subtle changes in information acquisition.

Method: We adapted a previously validated associative learning task for use within an online framework, utilizing real-world stimuli, in which learning of audio-visual pairs of Chinese characters and English words occurs over 5 days. The aim of this study was to validate our adaptation to the task, provide estimates of rates of learning in both young and older adults, as well as provide a methodological framework for further adaptation and development of the paradigm. A total of 30 young adults and 30 older adults completed 5 days of the Chinese Characters Learning Task (CCLT).

Results: Results indicated that rates of learning on the adapted task were comparable to the original paradigm and consistent across variations to testing frequency and duration. Our results also indicate the presence of a significant age-related impairment in the rate and accuracy of learning, with young adults aged 18–45 years performing significantly better than older adults aged 65–85 years, that was not due to differences in reaction time.

Conclusions: These findings suggest that daily measurement of cognition via an online platform can detect age-related impairments in learning and is therefore applicable for use within the context of age-related disorders of memory and learning.

KEYWORDS:

• Learning curves
• repeated assessment
• associative learning
• impairment
• acquisition

Acknowledgments

Alzheimer’s Australia (Victoria and Western Australia) assisted with promotion of the AIBL study and the screening of telephone calls from volunteers. The AIBL team wishes to thank the clinicians who referred patients with AD to the study: Associate Professor Brian Chambers, Professor Edmond Chiu, Dr Roger Clarnette, Associate Professor David Darby, Dr Mary Davison, Dr John Drago, Dr Peter Drysdale, Dr Jacqueline Gilbert, Dr Kwang Lim, Professor Nicola Lautenschlager, Dr Dina LoGiudice, Dr Peter McCardle, Dr Steve McFarlane, Dr Alastair Mander, Dr John Merory, Professor Daniel O’Connor, Dr Ron Scholes, Dr Mathew Samuel, Dr Darshan Trivedi, and Associate Professor Michael Woodward. We acknowledge the financial support of the Cooperative Research Center (CRC) for Mental Health. The CRC program is an Australian Government Initiative. We thank all those who participated in the study for their commitment and dedication to helping advance research into the early detection and causation of AD.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

Funding for the AIBL study was provided in part by the study partners [Australian Commonwealth Scientific Industrial and research Organization (CSIRO), Edith Cowan University (ECU), Mental Health Research Institute (MHRI), Alzheimer’s Australia (AA), National Ageing Research Institute (NARI), Austin Health, CogState Ltd., Hollywood Private Hospital, Sir Charles Gardner Hospital]. The study also received support from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and the Dementia Collaborative Research Centres program (DCRC2), as well as ongoing funding from the Science and Industry Endowment Fund (SIEF). YYL reports grants from the National Health and Medical Research Council [GNT1111603, GNT1147465].