Stylistic Memory Enhancement (SME)

Impairments in higher level cognitive processing, such as new learning and memory, are common in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and negatively impact multiple aspects of everyday life, including occupational and social functioning. Despite this, few studies have attempted to remediate these cognitive deficits in order to improve everyday functioning. While not applied in traditional rehabilitation protocols as of yet, many techniques from cognitive psychology significantly improve learning and memory in healthy persons. These techniques include the generation effect (GE), the spacing effect (SE), and the testing effect (TE). These techniques have recently been incorporated into an 8-session treatment protocol, Stylistic Memory Enhancement (SME), designed to teach participants about each of the techniques, train them on how to apply the techniques in daily life and practice their application to daily life memory demanding situations. The protocol includes teaching participants how to restructure a memory demanding situation in order to make optimal use of self-generation, spaced learning and self-testing. The objective of the study is to test the efficacy of the SME in an MS population.

The experimental group will meet with a study team member twice a week for 4 weeks (8 sessions) and receive memory strategy training.

The control group participants will meet with a study team member twice a week for 4 weeks (8 sessions) and receive control memory exercises.

Inclusion Criteria: Clinically definite MS between the ages of 18 and 59. Participants must have impairment in new learning (determined by an in-person screen) with intact language comprehension. Exclusion Criteria: History of alcohol or drug abuse/dependence, Major psychiatric disturbance (e.g. bipolar disorder, schizophrenia) and neurological history other than MS. Corticosteroid use within the last month prior to the participation. Less than 1 month post most recent exacerbation.