Exploitation vs. exploration—computational temporal and semantic analysis explains semantic verbal fluency impairment in Alzheimer's disease

This study uses a qualitative computational approach—combining temporal and semantic information—to investigate exploitation and exploration patterns as indicators for semantic memory retrieval and executive control processes. Audio SVF recordings of 20 controls (C, 66–81 years), 55 MCI (57–94 years) and 20 AD subjects (66–82 years) were assessed while groups were matched according to age and education. All groups produced, on average, the same amount of semantically related items in rapid succession within word clusters. Conversely, towards AD, there was a clear decline in semantic as well as temporal exploration patterns between clusters. Results strongly point towards preserved exploitation—semantic memory retrieval processes—and hampered exploration—executive control processes—in AD and potentially in MCI.
Source: Neuropsychologia - Category: Neurology Source Type: research