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Evaluation
All studies focused on testing of the same outcome measures (retrospective memory retrieval in particular improvements in autobiographical and episodic memories) using sensecam in comparison to verbal cues/ written diary feedback. The beneficial effect of SC in prompting AB memory was supported across various clinical populations demonstrating equally strong effect regardless age, gender, or severity of brain pathology. Especially promising are the improved results in the older age group of the AD experiment, reflecting that Sensecam’s passive use can override the nature decrease of intentional processes that occur by ageing. Similarly cases of severe brain damage signify possibility for ‘brain training’ by SC use. Most studies endorsed stringent methodological designs encompassing patient, family and sometimes supervisor(experimenter) verified measures. The majority of patients (excluding one) preferred the SC experience over using the diary and reported alleviation of anxiety, increased self- esteem and improvements in quality of life. Importantly, no costs/risks have been associated to SC use and long lasting beneficial effects are reported. The fact that recalled AB memories were not limited to depicted cues but extended to experienced content suggesting that the results did not demonstrate learning to reply to questions in a desirable way but provided clear proof for ability to recollect or re- live the event.
All studies focused on testing of the same outcome measures (retrospective memory retrieval in particular improvements in autobiographical and episodic memories) using sensecam in comparison to verbal cues/ written diary feedback. The beneficial effect of SC in prompting AB memory was supported across various clinical populations demonstrating equally strong effect regardless age, gender, or severity of brain pathology. Especially promising are the improved results in the older age group of the AD experiment, reflecting that Sensecam’s passive use can override the nature decrease of intentional processes that occur by ageing. Similarly cases of severe brain damage signify possibility for ‘brain training’ by SC use. Most studies endorsed stringent methodological designs encompassing patient, family and sometimes supervisor(experimenter) verified measures. The majority of patients (excluding one) preferred the SC experience over using the diary and reported alleviation of anxiety, increased self- esteem and improvements in quality of life. Importantly, no costs/risks have been associated to SC use and long lasting beneficial effects are reported. The fact that recalled AB memories were not limited to depicted cues but extended to experienced content suggesting that the results did not demonstrate learning to reply to questions in a desirable way but provided clear proof for ability to recollect or re- live the event.
The most prominent limitation of these case studies is decreased generalizebility to the wider population. Moreover, differences in methodologies restrict direct comparisons. These include SC use been adapted in each experiment in terms of cue provision (timing: before or after recall), length of exposure to cues (3-4 times or only once), testing at different time intervals (every two weeks/1 month) and similar but differently termed memory criteria (personally important/significant/ non- routine). Moreover, the time frame to which SC was set to take pictures was different so as the mode of picture viewing (forwards/backwards,fast,slow) by each patient. Some of the noted methodological caveats include: lack of specification of diary prerequisites (amount/writing style), testing directed and scored by care provider and inclusion of convenience samples (in healthy research) that might be characterized by expectation/motivation bias. Responding to criticisms raised concerning privacy violation and the necessity of laboratory settings, we need to stress that SC use can be discontinued in face of experience of events that the patient does not wish to share and that studying autobiographical memories is a highly personal and realistic topic that should be concerned with real life input.
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Further applications
We already reviewed studies that were conducted in multiple cases of autobiographical memory loss caused by neurological conditions, ABI and TBI. Wider applications of SC could include the elderly population (natural ageing), Stroke, Clinical depression, Hydrocephalus; Korsakof’s syndrome, Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy and PTSD since the conditions have a memory component that might relate to episodic/autobiographical memory loss. Let's wait and see what the future will bring. |