Connectionists: NEW REPRINT: Impaired Generalization of Learning in Patients with Alcohol Dependence.

[Mark A. Gluck]

Dear colleagues,

The following link

http://www.gluck.edu/pdf/MattyassyAlcAlcEpub.pdf

leads to an online PDF of our new paper on 
learning and generalization in patients with 
alcohol dependence, done in collaboration with 
our long-time collaborator in Hungary, Szabolcz 
Keri. Paper details are:

Máttyássy, A., Kéri, S., Myers, C. E., Levy-Gigi, 
E. , Mark A. Gluck, M. A. & Kelemen, O. (2012). 
Impaired generalization of associative learning 
in latients with alcohol dependence after 
intermediate-term abstinence. Alcohol and 
Alcoholism. In Press: doi: 10.1093/alcalc/ags050

We used an associative learning task to 
investigate cognitive dysfunctions in alcohol 
dependence. This test is suitable for the 
assessment of stimulus-response learning and 
memory generalization (acquired equivalence), 
which is related to medial temporal lobe 
functioning. Methods: Twenty patients with 
alcohol dependence (abstinence: >6 months) and 20 
matched healthy controls participated. In the 
task, antecedent stimuli were cartoon faces and 
consequent stimuli were color cartoon fishes. The 
task was to learn face-fish associations using 
feedback. In the transfer phase, the fish-face 
pairs were generalized to new associations. 
Results: There was no significant difference 
between patients and controls during the 
acquisition phase of fish-face associations. In 
the transfer phase, however, patients were 
impaired relative to controls. We found no 
association between task performance and 
intelligence. Conclusion: These results suggest 
that abstinent patients with alcohol dependence 
show marked dysfunctions in in the generalization 
of associations, which may indicate the 
dysfunction of the medial temporal lobe.


Regards, Mark Gluck
-- 

___________________________________________

Dr. Mark A. Gluck,  Professor 
   Director, Rutgers Memory Disorders Project 
Center for Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience                           
Rutgers University                                 Phone:  (973) 353-3668/3298
197 University Ave.                                    
Newark, New Jersey  07102                   Email:  gluck at pavlov.rutgers.edu

   Lab:  http://www.gluck.edu
   Memory Loss & Brain Newsletter: http://www.memorylossonline.com


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