Encoding in episodic memory is a step often impaired in patients with amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment (aMCI). However, procedural memory processes are still relatively preserved. In line with previous research on the enactment effect, we investigated the potential benefit of encoding words combined with imitative gestures on episodic memory. Based on the Grober and Buschke’s free/cued recall procedure, we developed the Symbiosis test in which 13 patients with aMCI and 16 healthy elderly participants learned 32 words belonging to 16 different semantic categories either in a verbal encoding (A) or a bimodal (B; verbal and motor imitation) condition, using a blocked ABBA/BAAB procedure. Overall, memory retrieval was better in healthy participants than in patients with aMCI, and better for cued retrieval in the bimodal encoding (gesture cues) than the verbal encoding (category cues) condition, but there was no interaction effect between group and encoding conditions. These results show that performing concomitant gestures can enhance cued episodic memory retrieval in patients with aMCI and in healthy elderly controls. The Symbiosis test broadens the scope of the enactment effect, from action phrases to isolated words learning in patients with aMCI. Future work should investigate how bimodal encoding provides novel perspectives for memory rehabilitation in patients with aMCI.

中文翻译：

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手势有助于 aMCI 中的记忆编码

情景记忆中的编码是遗忘性轻度认知障碍 (aMCI) 患者经常受损的一个步骤。然而，程序记忆过程仍然相对保留。根据之前关于制定效果的研究，我们调查了编码单词与模仿手势相结合对情景记忆的潜在好处。基于 Grober 和 Buschke 的自由/提示回忆程序，我们开发了共生测试，其中 13 名 aMCI 患者和 16 名健康老年参与者以语言编码 (A) 或双模式 (B) 学习了属于 16 个不同语义类别的 32 个单词; 语言和运动模仿）条件，使用阻塞的 ABBA/BAAB 程序。总体而言，健康参与者的记忆恢复优于 aMCI 患者，并且双峰编码（手势线索）中的线索检索比语言编码（类别线索）条件更好，但组和编码条件之间没有交互作用。这些结果表明，执行伴随手势可以增强 aMCI 患者和健康老年人对照的线索情景记忆检索。共生测试扩大了制定效果的范围，从行动短语到 aMCI 患者的孤立单词学习。未来的工作应该研究双峰编码如何为 aMCI 患者的记忆康复提供新的视角。这些结果表明，执行伴随手势可以增强 aMCI 患者和健康老年人对照的线索情景记忆检索。共生测试扩大了制定效果的范围，从行动短语到 aMCI 患者的孤立单词学习。未来的工作应该研究双峰编码如何为 aMCI 患者的记忆康复提供新的视角。这些结果表明，执行伴随手势可以增强 aMCI 患者和健康老年人对照的线索情景记忆检索。共生测试扩大了制定效果的范围，从行动短语到 aMCI 患者的孤立单词学习。未来的工作应该研究双峰编码如何为 aMCI 患者的记忆康复提供新的视角。