Long-term benefits of the Memory-Link programme in a case of amnesia

To systematically evaluate the maintenance of clinical gains from a structured memory intervention programme. Efficacy of the programme was initially demonstrated in RR, a woman with moderate-to-severe memory impairment following colloid cyst removal. In the current study (Svoboda and Richards, 2009), we examined RR's day-to-day memory functioning 18 months after completion of the intervention programme.

Within-subject A(1)B(1)A(2)B(2)B(3) single-case experimental design.

Outpatient memory rehabilitation clinic.

A theory-driven training programme in the use of commercially available smartphones for individuals with moderate-to-severe memory impairment.

A phone call task was used as an objective measure of prospective memory function. Self-report, ecologically valid questionnaires were also completed to further assess generalization of smartphone use to day-to-day memory function.

Eighteen months after intervention, RR completed 80% of scheduled calls using the smartphone, a rate significantly higher than at baseline (40%) and comparable to her success rate immediately following intervention (90%) and at the four-month follow-up (90%). Responses to questionnaires indicated that RR felt more confident in her ability to handle memory-demanding situations and was making fewer memory mistakes. This favourable outcome was not found with the use of another smartphone brand for which training was not received.

Results from ecologically valid measures of memory functioning demonstrated robust maintenance of independent commercial smartphone use over an 18-month period, with increases observed in independence, confidence and real-life memory functioning. The findings further suggest poor cross-device generalizability.