From Fundamental Principles of Memory Organization Towards Neurorehabilitation: A Literature Review and Case Report

• Main Authors: Nataliya A. Varako, Olga R. Dobrushina
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University 2018-09-01
• Series: Psychology in Russia: State of Art
• Subjects: neuropsychological rehabilitation; neurorehabilitation; memory; traumatic brain injury
• Online Access: http://psychologyinrussia.com/volumes/pdf/2018_3/psych_3_2018_7_Varako.pdf

Background. Contemporary rehabilitation of memory impairments relies on the use of external compensatory strategies. In Russian neuropsychological tradition, rehabilitation is understood as a transformation of a higher mental function, based on intact elements of that function and on use of external and internal means. Such a restructuration approach may be applied to memory. Objective. Tis article describes the basic principles underlying memory rehabilitationand gives an example of their successful implementation in a clinical case. Design. A 62-year-old patient was admitted 6 months afer severe traumatic brain injury with primary damage to his lef frontal and temporal lobes. He faced difculties in social living and activities of daily life, mainly due to memory impairment. Neuropsychological assessment revealed moderate impairment of diferent memory types: modal nonspecifc impairment with mild but persistent impairments in autobiographic and semantic memories. During a 3-week rehabilitation program, an algorithm involving the use of text was developed in consideration of the structure of memory impairment (impaired selectiveness, excessive inhibition and pathologic inertness of memory traces). Results. Afer multiple trials and modifcations, the resulting algorithm (written retelling with the use of keywords, self-correction with writing correct variants instead of errors), allowed reproduction of the presented text with 100% recall of signifcant information and no false memories. Te use of the developed memorization technique in everyday life allowed the patient to efectively memorize relevant information. Conclusion. Te described approach—restructuration of memory on the basis of preserved chains—is a feasible strategy of memory rehabilitation.