SenseCam as a rehabilitation tool in a child with anterograde amnesia

Abstract

We present the case of a 13-year-old boy, CJ, with profound episodic memory difficulties following the diagnosis of a metastatic intracranial germ cell tumour and subsequent treatment with radiotherapy and chemotherapy. At the core of this study is the first application of SenseCam to a child with severe memory impairment. CJ was taken for a walk while he was wearing SenseCam. This included visiting four different locations. We manipulated the number of locations he could review on SenseCam “films” and then tested recognition memory (forced choice) for both reviewed and non-reviewed locations. We also collected his justifications for the choices he made. Our results indicate that repeated viewings of SenseCam images support the formation of personal semantic memories. Overall our results suggest that the use of SenseCam in memory rehabilitation extends beyond supporting episodic memory and recollection, and supports the feasibility of its use with children who have marked memory difficulties.

Keywords:

• Episodic memory
• Brain tumours
• Metastatic intracranial germinoma
• Semantic memory
• Autobiographical memory

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We thank CJ and his parents for their unfailing cooperation and continuous support in this study. We wish to thank Richard Wilkie for advice regarding the visual layout of our testing material. We are also grateful to Martin Conway for his support and to Emma Berry for providing CJ with a SenseCam, which made this study possible.