Project 8

Basic Memory Processes in the Severely Affected Alzheimer’s Patient

This study will determine if the simplest form of memory processes, habituation of a repeated stimulus, exhibits deficits in patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Habituation is a dual process, with both a rapidly acquired and rapidly extinguished process, and a slowly acquired, slowly extinguished process. It is intended to determine if either or both of these habituation processes is/are disrupted in patients, using habituation to the acoustic startle response as assessed by EMG recordings. If so, then this suggests that memory impairments in Alzheimer’s disease involve neurally widespread processes fundamental to memory, rather than due to lesions to specific sites alone. In addition, this measure could provide a test of memory function that can be used even in severely affected patients, and provide an useful animal model.