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The application of the first order system transfer function for fitting The California Verbal Learning Test Learning Curve

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 March 2010

IGOR I. STEPANOV ,
CHARLES I. ABRAMSON ,
OLIVER T. WOLF  and
ANTONIO CONVIT
IGOR I. STEPANOV*
Affiliation:
Department of Neuropharmacology, Institute for Experimental Medicine, St. Petersburg, Russia
CHARLES I. ABRAMSON
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma
OLIVER T. WOLF
Affiliation:
Department of Cognitive Psychology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
ANTONIO CONVIT
Affiliation:
Center for Brain Health, New York University School of Medicine, New York City, New York Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, New York
*
*Correspondence and reprint requests to: Igor I. Stepanov, Department of Neuropharmacology, Institute for Experimental Medicine, 12 Acad. Pavlov Street, St. Petersburg, 197376, Russia. E-mail: igorstep@is12044.spb.edu
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Abstract

Very few attempts have been made to apply a mathematical model to the learning curve in the California Verbal Learning Test list A immediate recall. Our rationale was to find out whether modeling of the learning curve can add additional information to the standard CVLT-II measures. We applied a standard transfer function in the form Y = B3*exp(-B2*(X-1))+B4*(1-exp(-B2*(X-1))), where X is the trial number; Y is the number of recalled correct words, B2 is the learning rate, B3 is readiness to learn and B4 is ability to learn. The coefficients of the model were found to be independent measures not duplicating standard CVLT-II measures. Regression analysis revealed that readiness to learn (B3) and ability to learn (B4) were significantly (p < .05) higher in a group of healthy participants than in a group of participants with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), but the learning rate (B2) did not differ (p > .2). The proposed model is appropriate for clinical application and as a guide for research and may be used as a good supplemental tool for the CVLT-II and similar memory tests. (JINS, 2010, 16, 443–452.)

Keywords

Mathematical modelNeuropsychologic testsT2DMFree recallMemoryAttention
Type
Research Articles
Information
Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society , Volume 16 , Issue 3 , May 2010 , pp. 443 - 452
Copyright
Copyright © The International Neuropsychological Society 2010

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