The contribution of list length to the absence of the primacy effect in word recall in dementia of the Alzheimer type

Abstract

SYNOPSISIt has repeatedly been demonstrated that patients with dementia of the Alzheimer type (DAT) show an absence of the primacy effect when asked to recall a list of items. The results of the present study show that the absence of the primacy effect in DAT patients is related to list length but probably in a way that is qualitatively not specific since it follows the same pattern as in normal ageing. It is also demonstrated that DAT patients differ in learning style. It is suggested that this indicates a reduced capacity to maintain controlled processing.