LISS 2024. Authors: Thomas Wilschut (University of Groningen, Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences), Andrea Stocco (University of Washington), Stephan Bakker (University Medical Centre Groningen)
Assessing long-term memory function is crucial for diagnosis and treatment in a wide range of clinical cases, including the early detection of Alzheimer’s disease. In order to effectively assess memory abnormalities in clinical populations, it is crucial to collect normative data from a representative sample of individuals in the Netherlands. This project uses a newly developed memory test that is based on a computer model to calculate the speed at which information is forgotten. By projecting these forgetting speeds over time, the test allows for the evaluation of long-term memory function. Initial studies demonstrate that the tool is fast, reliable and repeatable. However, the studies conducted so far used homogeneous samples of educated participants. Here, we aim to examine how individual differences in memory performance correlate with age, education level, and socio-economic status. The outcomes will be valuable for developing diagnostic memory tests and will also contribute to psychological research by exploring the relationship between memory function and environmental factors.
Picture by Shubham Dhage on Unsplash.