Publication Abstract Display
Type: Published Abstract
Title: Self-Generation Enhances Verbal Recall in Individuals Infected with HIV.
Authors: Weber E, Woods S, Kellogg E, Grant I, Basso M, and the HNRP Group
Year: 2011
Publication: Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology
Volume: 26 Issue: 6 Pages: 547
Abstract:Objective: Self-generation is theorized to enhance new learning because it involves elaborated and deeper encoding. The present study explored this approach in HIV infection, in which moderate encoding deficits are commonly observed. Method: Participants included 56 HIV-infected and 46 seronegative individuals, who learned paired word associates through either self-generated or didactic encoding. In the didactic condition, participants received completed word pairs that they were instructed to read aloud. In the self-generation condition, participants received the first word, but the second word was self-generated based on its first letter and the given relationship between the words (e.g., "synonym"). The primary dependent variables of interest were the 20-min delayed free recall scores from the self-generation and didactic conditions. Results: A mixed-factor ANOVA revealed main effects of HIV status (p < 0.05) and encoding condition (p < 0.001), but no interaction between HIV status and encoding condition (p > 0.10). Planned comparisons showed that HIV+ individuals recalled fewer words overall compared with their seronegative counterparts (p < 0.05), and that both groups recalled significantly more words learned in the self-generation condition (p < 0.001). Although the interaction term was non-significant, HIV-infected individuals recalled significantly fewer words versus the seronegative group in the didactic condition (p < 0.05; d = 0.58), but performed comparably in the self-generation condition (p > 0.10; d = 0.26). Conclusion: Findings suggest that self-generation strategies may improve verbal recall in individuals with HIV infection, and may therefore be an appropriate and potentially effective cognitive rehabilitation tool in this population.

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