“Double Test” as a Multidimensional Way to Evaluate Short-Term Memory

Abstract

Background. The problem of the multi-faceted study of memory is highly relevant, since it is an integral mental process and a basic characteristic of all human life activity. Long-term studies of the short-term memory by means of "Double Test" have shown its effectiveness in terms of a multidimensional assessment of the volume of operational and direct memory, as well as their ratio, which makes it possible to quantify, determine the reserve capabilities of the short-term memory and the level of mental activity that supports mnestic activity. At the same time, it is important to study the dynamics of short-term memory indicators using the Double Test in the context of medical and correctional measures, which is currently understudied.

Objective. To demonstrate the possibilities of implementing the "Double Test" in the dynamics of corrective influence, which is important for research activities and clinical psychological practice.

Study Participants. 69 patients, including 49 elderly individuals with moderate cognitive impairment (ICD-F06.7) aged 60 to 75 years (M(SD) = 69.25 ± 7.65) and 20 patients with vascular dementia (ICD-F01.9) aged 55 to 75 years (M(SD) = 64.9 ± 8.6). A control group of healthy young individuals was also examined.

Methods. Short-term memory was assessed by means of "Double test", including two subtests: one for immediate memory and the other one — for working memory. To study the short-term memory in dynamics, the research design involved the method of forming and activating the artificial stable functional connections of the human brain.

Results. In the groups of elderly people with mild cognitive impairement and vascular dementia, there was a decrease (relative to normal) in operational memory, most evident in the group of people with dementia. Normative indicators of direct memory were observed in the control group. After exposure to the method of formation and activation of artificial stable functional brain connections, elderly people with mild cognitive impairement experienced an increase in operational memory, while young people showed an increase in direct memory. The observed dynamics may indicate different mechanisms in the nature of compensatory changes in the structural and functional organization of memory in elderly patients with mild cognitive impairment and in healthy controls.

Conclusions. The experience of using the "Double test" in the research activities on different groups of ill and healthy individuals allows to conclude that this technique is suitable for a multi-faceted quantitative assessment of short-term memory, as well as for studying the dynamics of short-term memory indicators using the method of forming and activating artificial stable functional brain connections, which is confirmed by the peculiarities of psychological restructuring of the short-term memory, first of all — an increase in operational memory, which was initially significantly reduced in elderly people with mild cognitive impairment and in people with dementia, while in the group of healthy people there was an increase in direct memory at the initial normative values of direct and operational memory.

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