Learning by Insight-Like Sudden Comprehension as a Potential Strategy to Improve Memory Encoding in Older Adults

Abstract

Several cognitive functions show a decline with advanced age, most prominently episodic memory. Problem-solving by insight represents a special associative form of problem-solving that has previously been shown to facilitate long-term memory formation. Recent neuroimaging evidence suggests that the encoding network involved in insight-based memory formation is largely hippocampus-independent. This may represent a potential advantage in older adults, as the hippocampus is one of the earliest brain structures to show age-related volume loss and functional impairment. Here, we investigated the potential beneficial effects of learning by insight in healthy older (60–79 years) compared to young adults (19–28 years). To this end, we compared later memory performance for verbal riddles encoded incidentally via induced insight-like sudden comprehension in both age groups. We employed a variant of the Compound Remote Associate Task (CRAT) for incidental encoding, during which participants were instructed to judge the solvability of items. In a 24-h delayed surprise memory test, participants attempted to solve previously encountered items and additionally performed a recognition memory test. During this test, older adults correctly solved an equal proportion of new CRA items compared to young adults and both age groups reported a similar frequency of Aha! experiences. While overall memory performance was better in young participants (higher proportion of correctly solved and correctly recognized old CRA items), older participants exhibited a stronger beneficial effect of insight-like sudden comprehension on later recognition memory for CRA items. Our results suggest that learning via insight might constitute a promising approach to improve memory function in old age.

The relationship between resting-state amplitude fluctuations and memory-related deactivations of the Default Mode Network in young and older adults

“…This type of processing relies heavily on existing memory representations, i.e. generalized, more abstract knowledge, and older adults tend to rely more heavily on it (Kizilirmak et al, 2021;Koutstaal & Schacter, 1997;Schacter & Norman, 1997;Webb & Dennis, 2020).…”

Structural and Functional MRI Data Differentially Predict Chronological Age and Behavioral Memory Performance

“…One potential explanation for this finding may be that, in our study, the sample investigated consisted of neurologically and psychiatrically healthy older adults without signs of cognitive impairment. This suggests that brain atrophy (i.e., structural volume loss) may to some extent occur invariably with increasing age, but does not necessarily affect cognitive performance as long as (1) the degree is still within the bounds of normal aging and (2) it is not accompanied by functional processing changes (reflected in fMRI scores), potentially because of compensatory mechanisms ( Kizilirmak et al, 2021 ). This is in line with previous studies that reported a decoupling between gray and white matter measures and memory performance in older age ( de Mooij et al, 2018 ), underscoring that cognitive maintenance or reserve is, at least to a degree, independent of neural maintenance.…”

Structural and functional MRI data differentially predict chronological age and behavioral memory performance

“…One potential explanation for this finding may be that, in our study, the sample investigated consisted of neurologically and psychiatrically healthy older adults without signs of cognitive impairment. This suggests that brain atrophy (i.e., structural volume loss) may to some extent occur invariably with increasing age, but does not necessarily affect cognitive performance as long as (i) the degree is still within the bounds of normal aging and (ii) it is not accompanied by functional processing changes (reflected in fMRI scores), potentially due to compensatory mechanisms (Kizilirmak et al, 2021). This is in line with previous studies that reported a decoupling between gray and white matter measures and memory performance in older age (de Mooij et al, 2018), underscoring that cognitive maintenance or reserve is – at least to a degree – independent of neural maintenance.…”