[Memory Rehabilitation for Amnesic with Acquired Brain Injury]

Two theoretical frameworks based on cognitive rehabilitation principles are recommended for the rehabilitation of memory impaired individuals. The first is improving memory function by the remediation of brain plasticity, known as remediation-oriented rehabilitation, and second is the compensation of memory function through the use of external memory aids, environmental modifications, and intact cognitive functions to overcome limitations in daily life. In rehabilitation of episodic memory impaired individuals, it has been recognized that the effortful active retrieval technique is more effective than the memorization technique. In contrast, the errorless learning technique with high-effort conditions and the active participation of patients has been recognized to be particularly effective in directly improving impaired episodic memory systems. More recently, another mnemonic strategy called the spaced retrieval technique has gained support. The theoretical components of spaced retrieval consist of classical conditioning, priming, the spacing effect, and errorless learning by taking advantage of the implicit memory system, which is preserved in many people with memory loss.