Savings in sensorimotor learning during balance-challenged walking but not reaching

Safe and successful motor performance relies on the ability to adapt to physiological and environmental change and retain what is learned. An open question is what factors maximize this retention? One overlooked factor is the degree to which balance is challenged during learning. We propose that the greater need for control and/or perceived threat of falling or injury associated with balance-challenging tasks increases the value assigned to maintaining a learned visuomotor mapping (i.e., the new relationship between visual input and motor output). And we propose that a greater-valued mapping is a more retainable mapping, as it serves to benefit future motor performance. Thus, we tested the hypothesis that challenging balance enhances motor memory, reflected by greater recall and faster relearning (i.e., savings). Four groups of participants adapted to a novel visuomotor mapping induced by prism lenses while performing a reaching or walking task, with and without an additional balance challenge. We found that challenging balance did not disrupt visuomotor adaptation during reaching or walking. We then probed recall and savings by having participants repeat the adaptation protocol one week later. For reaching, we found evidence of initial recall, though neither group demonstrated savings upon re-exposure to the prisms. In contrast, both walking groups demonstrated significant initial recall and savings. Additionally, we found that challenging balance significantly enhanced savings during walking. Taken together, our results demonstrate the robustness of motor memories formed during walking and highlight the potential influence of balance control on sensorimotor learning.

How aging affects visuomotor adaptation and retention in a precision walking paradigm

Motor learning is a lifelong process. However, age-related changes to musculoskeletal and sensory systems alter the relationship (or mapping) between sensory input and motor output, and thus potentially affect motor learning. Here we asked whether age affects the ability to adapt to and retain a novel visuomotor mapping learned during overground walking. We divided participants into one of three groups (n = 12 each) based on chronological age: a younger-aged group (20–39 years old); a middle-aged group (40–59 years old); and an older-aged group (60–80 years old). Participants learned a new visuomotor mapping, induced by prism lenses, during a precision walking task. We assessed retention one-week later. We did not detect significant effects of age on measures of adaptation or savings (defined as faster relearning). However, we found that older adults demonstrated reduced initial recall of the mapping, reflected by greater foot-placement error during the first adaptation trial one-week later. Additionally, we found that increased age significantly associated with reduced initial recall. Overall, our results suggest that aging does not impair adaptation and that older adults can demonstrate visuomotor savings. However, older adults require some initial context during relearning to recall the appropriate mapping.

RADIOGRAPHIC EVALUATION OF CRESTAL BONE RESORPTION DURING HEALING & LOADING PERIOD IN IMPLANT SUPPORTED OVERDENTURE BY PLACING IMPLANT THROUGH FLAP TECHNIQUE- IN VIVO STUDY

Aim: The aim of this study was to detect the effect of flap technique on crestal bone resorption during healing and loading period in implant supported overdentures. Material and Methods: A total of 8 patients, 5 male and 3 female, ranging from 50 to 70 years of age, having completely edentulous maxillary and mandibular arches were selected for the study the whole study was conducted in 4 phases. In the 1st phase Clinical Diagnosis, Treatment Planning & Denture Fabrication was done. The selected subjects will be diagnosed and treatment planning for new denture fabrication was done. In the 2nd phase the denture insertion was done and if required occlusal correction was be performed. After initial recall visit, patient was recalled again after one week of denture usage. In this visit 1st stage of implant surgery was conducted. Dental implant in the mid symphyseal region was placed following all the surgical protocols. Immediately after surgery first IOPA with RVG was taken. After the surgery the denture was relieved at the surgical site and patient was asked to use the same denture. Subsequently after 4 weeks and after 12 weeks of healing the second and third IOPA with RVG was taken. The computer software was used for measuring the bone level. After 3 months of Osseointegration period in phase 3, the loading of the implant was done by incorporating O ring attachment. Again after 4 weeks and after 12 weeks of loading the fourth and fifth IOPA with RVG was taken. The magnification error was checked. The data obtained was saved using Paint software used in Microsoft 8.1. The data so obtained for measuring the bone levels with the help of computer software (RVG 5100) was tabled and statistical analysis was done. Results: The mean rate of crestal bone loss with time was more during first month (0.35mm) then it decreased in 3rd month (0.51mm) and further decreased during 4th month (0.59mm) and 6th month (0.70mm) follow up period. Conclusion: The concept of single implant supported overdentures provides another option for completely edentulous elderly patients with severely resorbed mandibular ridge & with economic constraints in developing countries. Keywords: Dental implants, Overdenture, Residual Alveolar Ridge, Crestal Bone loss, Intraoral Digital Radiography (RVG 5100).

Protective effects of testing across misinformation formats in the household scene paradigm

Many studies have demonstrated retrieval-enhanced suggestibility (RES), in which taking an initial recall test after witnessing an event increases suggestibility to subsequent misinformation introduced via a narrative. Recently, however, initial testing has been found to have a protective effect against misinformation introduced via cued-recall questions. We examined whether misinformation format (narrative vs. cued-recall questions) yields a similar dissociation in a paradigm that, to date, has consistently yielded a protective effect of testing (PET). After studying photos of household scenes (e.g., kitchen), some participants took an initial recall test. After a 48-hr delay, items not presented in the scenes (e.g., knives/plates) were suggested either via narrative or questions. Regardless of the misinformation format, we found a PET on both initial-test-conditionalised free recall and source-monitoring tests. However, initial testing also yielded memory costs, such that suggested items reported on the initial test were likely to persist on a final recall test. Thus, initial testing can protect against suggestibility, but can also precipitate memory errors when intrusions emerge on an initial test.

Temporal Effects of Message Congruency on Attention to and Recall of Pictorial Health Warning Labels on Cigarette Packages

Objectives Recent research has shown that message congruency is beneficial to recall of pictorial health warning label (PWL) content after initial exposure. Despite less attention to the text warning, smokers exposed to congruent PWLs were more likely to recall the text and the message. This study aimed to replicate these findings and to examine whether congruency also affects recall after multiple exposures over time. Methods A total of 320 daily smokers (39.7% female; cigarettes/day: M = 15.31, SD = 7.15) were randomized to one congruent or incongruent PWL and attended 4 laboratory sessions over 10 days. During each session, eye movements were recorded while viewing the PWL and open-ended recall of label content was assessed after exposure. Results Smokers who were exposed to a congruent PWL were more likely to recall the text (p = .01) and the message (p = .02) and less likely to recall the image (p = .003) of the PWL after initial exposure. By day 4, incongruent PWLs were recalled equally well as congruent PWLs. Independent of condition, image recall was initially high and remained high whereas text and message recall was relatively low initially but increased over time. It was not until day 7 that about 80% of text and message recall was observed. Conclusions Even when exposed to the same PWL over time, smokers require multiple exposures to recall the text and the message of a PWL. More research on the effects of congruency in the natural environment, where smokers are exposed to multiple PWLs, is needed. Implications The findings of this study, and of previous work showing that message congruency in PWLs is beneficial to initial recall of PWL content, could potentially help to address legal challenges regarding the implementation of PWLs in the United States. Factually correct text warnings have been uncontested on US cigarettes packages since 1966. Congruent PWLs simply provide a means to visually support the same information as the existing text using a medium that better garners attention to the health information. Investigating and understanding longer-term effects of congruency are important and can empirically inform future warning label development, both in the United States via the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, and via other governing bodies.

Making Retrospective Confidence Judgments Improves Learners’ Ability to Decide What Not to Study

Predictions about future retrieval success, known as judgments of learning (JOLs), are often viewed as important for effective control over learning. However, much less is known about how retrospective confidence judgments (RCJs), evaluations of past retrieval success, may affect control over learning. We compared participants’ ability to identify items that would benefit from additional study after making either a JOL or an RCJ. Participants completed a cued-recall task in which they made a metacognitive judgment after an initial recall attempt and before making a restudy decision. Participants who made RCJs prior to their restudy decisions were more accurate at identifying items in need of being restudied, relative to participants who made JOLs. The results indicate that having participants assess their confidence in past retrieval success can nudge them toward better utilizing of valid information when deciding which items are in need of further study.