Memory Rehabilittion
Across the years, scientists have developed various interventions that aim in enhancing implicit (vanishing cues, errorless learning, spaced retrieval) and explicit memory, especially retrospective. Some techniques, that target retrospective memory, aiming at promoting independence and self sustaining, include writing down things you intend/must do on post it notes and to do lists, using electronic organizers, PDA, setting alarm clocks and timers and organizing and advising calendars. However, the majority of these techniques do not target retrospective memory, hat is essential to one’s quality of life. Cognitive Stimulation Therapy, can stimulate the patient’s memory regarding personal information by combining cognitive training and reminiscence therapy. Reminiscence therapy is based on promoting communication over personal lifetime pictures that the person decides to share. These may include music, videos, diaries, recordings and anything enjoyable that can cue his/her memory for special experiences. Despite facilitating the person’s well-being, this therapy primarily accesses preceding autobiographical memories but not the ones from the very recent past (Rusted & Clare, 2006). One way of achieving keeping track and detailed account of recent memories would be to use diaries and regular cameras regularly. Yet remembering to do this can be highly problematic for people that have memory loss.
Sensecam
Microsoft’s SenseCam being influenced by CST, is a small and light digital camera that was developed to help retain and recall of those particular memories, on the privilege that it provides the person with an extensive amount of personal pictures that include very recent events on a daily basis. SenseCam can be wore around the neck, and is very comfortable. It simply requires you to remember to wear and activate it by pressing one single button. It does not demand that you stop your regular activities to take notes or take pictures. Rather, it automatically starts taking pictures of the events you experience from your own point of view and covering almost anything is presented your visual field, supported by its highly developed almost spherical lens. The frequency that the camera takes pictures can be set to fit your needs, for example every 30 seconds or more. SC also has electronic sensors that detect changes in light and temperature so it will detect changes in your environment such as moving to another place or meeting another person and will automatically record these events, regardless of its usual time operation, because they represent changes in routine that you might want to specifically remember. After taking SC off, you can upload the pictures to your computer and view all the pictures that were generated, either one to one, or in the form of a slideshow, reminding you your daily activities in the way you experienced them. You can view the pictures many times and in various ways, slowly or quickly, forward or backwards. Even if you are unfamiliar with technology or computers, the process can be unexpectedly easy, as people that have used it confidently report. Your researcher can provide you with instructions of use and every time you decide to upload your pictures to your computer this happens automatically via the aid of a computer application.
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How does this assist memory? What is special about these photographs?
When we try to remember something specific, pictures come into our minds and remind us bits of each event as we experienced them, allowing us to mentally rebuild the experience, visualize it and bring it to mind (remember). Using naturalistic personal pictures that are compatible to the ones that the human mind generates in response to an experienced event, SC provides natural cues that facilitate this process in people that suffer memory loss. Does it work? Research has been carried out on various individuals with complex memory difficulties and all of these studies show that SC use had very beneficial effects. The experience is rated as highly pleasant and all patients reported remembering more recent memories after the intervention. You can watch the video of a patient named Claire if you click on the following link and see how SC changed her life. Where can I find SC?
SC is available for purchase as the Vicon Revue. Find out more at: http://viconrevue.com/product.html However, SC is a bit expensive at the time so you might want to try receiving free therapy along with helping in SenseCam research by participating in clinical research trials. Find all the information you need by visiting the NHS Dendron website: http://www.crn.nihr.ac.uk/ |