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Interference effects in chronic alcoholism

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 February 2009

Matthew J. Blusewicz ,
Joel H. Kramer  and
Richard L. Delmonico
Matthew J. Blusewicz
Affiliation:
Department of Veterans Affairs Northern California Health Care System, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523University of California, Davis, School of Medicine, Depts. of Neurology and Psychiatry, Sacramento, CA 95817
Joel H. Kramer
Affiliation:
University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine, Dept. of Psychiatry, San Francisco, CA 94143
Richard L. Delmonico
Affiliation:
Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, Dept. of Psychology, San Jose, CA 95128
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Abstract

This study investigated underlying mechanisms of the verbal memory disorder associated with chronic alcoholism. Previous investigations have suggested that alcoholics are more vulnerable to interference effects on verbal learning and memory tasks, both with respect to retroactive interference (RI) and proactive interference (PI); this was the hypothesis of the current study. Measures of RI and build-up and release from PI were administered to 31 abstinent male chronic alcoholics and 24 healthy male nonalcoholic control subjects. Alcoholics demonstrated more sensitivity to RI than controls. Additionally, alcoholics displayed a more rapid build-up of PI, although they showed normal release. An increased interference effect was found to be a component of chronic alcoholics’ verbal memory impairment and may differentiate chronic alcoholism from other disorders affecting verbal learning and memory. (JINS, 1996, 2, 141–145.)

Keywords

AlcoholismInterference effectsVerbal learning and memoryNeuropsychology
Type
Research Articles
Information
Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society , Volume 2 , Issue 2 , March 1996 , pp. 141 - 145
Copyright
Copyright © The International Neuropsychological Society 1996

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