Imagining an action between two
objects (the umbrella being lodged
in the door lock) and a potential
consequence (not being able to lock
the door) may help people improve
their memory for relationships
between objects. This is an example
of a natural memory strategy –
termed "unitization" – that was
employed by an individual with
amnesia, D.A., who was able to
complete tasks that he shouldn't
have been able to due to his brain
injury. His injury should have
made it difficult to establish new
memories and integrate and learn
new information based on his past
experiences, but he was still able
to do so.
In 2019, RRI Senior Scientist
and Reva James Leeds Chair
in Neuroscience and Research
Leadership, Dr. Jennifer Ryan,
was awarded $688,500 over five
years by the Canadian Institutes of
Health Research to explore how this
strategy could be used to overcome
memory problems.
"With this new funding, we'll be
able to take our research further and
understand how this strategy can
help older adults who are starting
to have memory problems seen
in aging or linked to early signs of
Alzheimer's disease," says Dr. Ryan.
TRAINING THE BRAIN TO BYPASS
MEMORY PROBLEMS
The next time you hear
about the possibility
of rain on the weather
forecast, try imagining
the umbrella tip being
lodged in your home's
door lock, blocking
you from locking it.
This mental exercise
could prevent you from
leaving home without
an umbrella.
Dr. Jennifer Ryan
14 ROTMAN RESEARCH INSTITUTE
