Abstract

CARVALHO, Fabiana Castillo Roda; NERI, Anita Liberalesso  and  YASSUDA, Mônica Sanches. Episodic memory training with emphasis on categorization for older adults without dementia and depression. Psicol. Reflex. Crit. [online]. 2010, vol.23, n.2, pp. 317-323. ISSN 0102-7972.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0102-79722010000200014.

Aging may lead to cognitive changes, especially in memory. Yet, research suggests that older adults may improve memory performance after training. The present study aimed at evaluating the effects of episodic memory training offered to healthy Brazilian older adults. Fifty seven participants were randomly divided into control group (COG = 26) and experimental group (EXG = 31). The EXG participants completed a pre-test, five sessions of episodic memory training in which they were instructed to categorize grocery lists and pictures, and a post-test. Results indicated that episodic memory training involving learning and practice with categorization promoted significant improvement in episodic memory performance and in better using the trained strategy.

Keywords : Memory; Memory training; Older adults; Categorization.