Encoding specificity, depth of processing, and cued recall in Alzheimer's disease

Unlike normal aging, Alzheimer's disease (SDAT) subjects typically show no benefit in free recall from semantic depth of processing cues at acquisition, but their recall is enhanced by semantic cues at both acquisition and retrieval. However, this apparent encoding-specificity effect might result from cued recall alone. SDAT and control subjects studied pictures in a design comparing depth of processing, cued recall, and encoding specificity. Cued recall alone was ineffective for SDAT subjects but, consistent with other studies, the encoding specificity condition did enhance recall. Both control and SDAT subjects also showed a levels of processing effect in free recall, modified by recency of presentation. Conclusions were: (a) though impaired in the capacity spontaneously to do so, SDAT subjects can be assisted to exploit semantic aspects of material in memory; (b) for optimal remembering in SDAT, substantial cued support should be provided at both ends of the processing continuum.