Using a smartphone to manage memory deficits in amnesia.
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Using a smartphone to manage memory deficits in anterograde amnesia: a single case pilot study.
IRAS ID
285104
Contact name
Tony Ward
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Shelley Park Neuro Care Centre
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 3 months, 29 days
Research summary
Significant memory problems are a frequent consequence of many types of acquired brain injury. Anterograde amnesia is one such difficulty, which results in people having difficulty recalling information or events which have happened to them subsequent to the injury. Such problems frequently result from stroke, haemorrhage or encephalopathy. \nBecause people are unable to recall recent information, they become increasingly locked in the past. In trying to make sense of the word, they will tend to rely on the significant memories they can access from before the date of the injury. They may still think that they are employed and in former relationships, and become confused where they have moved their residential location.\nA number of research studies have demonstrated that this difficulty in recall seems to involve the conscious process of recollection. It does not tend to impact implicit learning processes. As a result, patients with amnesia can learn new information over time through constant repetition. This can result in them acquiring complex skills.\nVarious technologies have been explored in recent years to see if they can be harnessed to help people with memory difficulties. Smartphones would be one such technology that would appear to have considerable potential in helping patients to manage anterograde amnesia. A recent case study has demonstrated that such technology can be mastered by patients with amnesia using errorless learning strategies.\nThis research aims to build on previous work to explore in depth with a single case of a patient with anterograde amnesia the extent to which they can acquire and use the properties of a number of existing smartphone applications to compensate for their amnesia. This work will then inform future research which will be aimed at developing a bespoke application to help patients manage amnesia. \n
REC name
Social Care REC
REC reference
20/IEC08/0024
Date of REC Opinion
20 Nov 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion