Which processes are involved in cognitive procedural learning?

Full Abstract

Procedural memory is characterised by a relative resistance to pathology, making its assessment of the utmost importance. However, few studies have looked at the cognitive processes involved in cognitive procedural learning. In an initial experiment, we studied the role of different cognitive functions in massed cognitive procedural learning. Our results confirmed the existence of three separate learning phases and, for the first time, demonstrated the involvement of episodic memory and executive functions in the first learning phase. In a second experiment, we studied the effect of distributed learning conditions on the dynamics of procedural learning. This second study confirmed our results but showed that these conditions slow down the process of cognitive procedural learning. Our overall findings call into question the status of functionally autonomous memory system that is currently allotted to procedural memory, and suggest that the role of nonprocedural cognitive components should be taken into account in patient rehabilitation.

Learn Faster Today Improve your study skills

Author information

Author/s: Beaunieux, Hélène (H); Hubert, Valérie (V); Witkowski, Thomas (T); Pitel, Anne-Lise (AL); Rossi, Sandrine (S); Danion, Jean-Marie (JM); Desgranges, Béatrice (B); Eustache, Francis (F);

Affiliation: Inserm, Université de Caen, E0218, France. helene.beaunieux(-atsign-)unicaen.fr

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: Memory (Hove, England) (Memory), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2006-Jul; vol 14 (issue 5) : pp 521-39

Dates: Created 2006/06/06; Completed 2006/12/12;

PMID: 16754239, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

External Links for this article (including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.

MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Learning
Male
Memory
Memory, Short-Term
Middle Aged
Principal Component Analysis - methods
Psychological Tests
Psychomotor Performance
Visual Perception

These are the highest related articles currently in the database:

See 100+ related articles.