Three methods of memory training for severely amnesic patients.

Carr et al. (1985) worked with adults who had severe memory loss.

The team tried three ways to help them learn new facts: repeating items over and over, adding extra meaning to the items, and a mix of both.

They watched each person trial-by-trial to see if the facts stuck.

Patients could recite the exact facts they practiced.

They did not use the tricks on new facts.

The tricks stayed in the clinic room.

Delaney et al. (1998) later said memory is just behavior you can watch and shape.

That idea turns the old drill into something you can see and count.

Schedlowski et al. (2025) tried a newer method called stimulus-equivalence training for dementia.

Their review also found mixed results, showing the field still struggles to make memory training spread.

Lanfranchi et al. (2017) trained working memory in Down syndrome and saw the same short-lived gains.

Together these papers warn: practice helps the exact task, but do not expect wider use without extra planning.

If you teach a client phone numbers with flashcards, they may learn those numbers.

Do not assume they will use the same plan to learn new passwords.

Probe with new facts often and add multiple exemplars or self-instruction if you want the skill to travel.