Acquisition of domain-specific knowledge in organic amnesia: Training for computer-related work

In previous research we demonstrated that memory-impaired patients can acquire some forms of complex domain-specific knowledge in the laboratory. The present study explored further the kind of complex knowledge that amnesic patients can acquire in the laboratory, and examined whether such knowledge could be applied in an important domain of everyday life. A severely amnesic patient was taught, in the laboratory, the knowledge and skills needed to perform a complex computer data-entry job. Subsequently, she was able to perform the job in the real-world work environment as quickly and as accurately as experienced data-entry employees. Successful job training appeared to depend on (a) the use of a training technique, the method of vanishing cues, that engaged the patient's preserved learning abilities, (b) extensive repetition of all procedures, and (c) explicit and direct training of all components of the job.