The method of vanishing cues: An evaluation of its effectiveness in teaching memory-impaired individuals

• Published in: Neuropsychologia Vol. 33; no. 10; pp. 1255 - 1279
• Main Authors: Hunkin, Nicola M., Parkin, Alan J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01-10-1995
• Subjects: Adult; amnesia; Amnesia - physiopathology; Amnesia - rehabilitation; Computer-Assisted Instruction; Female; Frontal Lobe - physiopathology; Humans; implicit memory; Language; Learning; Male; Mental Recall; Middle Aged; Neuropsychological Tests; Pilot Projects; Psychometrics; rehabilitation; Teaching; vanishing cues; vanishing cues; amnesia; rehabilitation; implicit memory
• ISSN: 0028-3932; 1873-3514
• DOI: 10.1016/0028-3932(95)00061-7

The method of vanishing cues and a standard rote learning method were used to teach a group of memory-impaired individuals a small computer vocabulary. Learning was observed using both teaching methods but no advantage was found for either one. A second experiment was carried out where modifications were made to the vanishing cues procedure in order to facilitate the use of implicit memory. Retention was significantly better following study with rote learning than with the modified vanishing cues procedure. A theoretical interpretation of these results and the reason for the failure to replicate previous findings is given.