These programs are designed for therapeutic use by individuals with long-term memory problems caused by an injury to the brain or by stroke. The emphasis is on the transfer of new information into long-term (and not short-term) storage.
MEMSCAN is a version of the classic Sternberg procedure for scanning information in very short-term memory. A 2 choice differential response is made based on whether a target is included in a memory set of varying size.
This task contrasts the amount of time to type the alphabet forwards with the time to do it backwards. Concentration and motor planning are required. Oral (examiner types) and typed modes are possible Concentration and control, together with perseverance, are necessary for most people to type the alphabet backwards. The alphabet forwards is essentially a baseline for the backwards version.
Verbal fluency is used for persons with word finding capability to determine if verbal retrieval can be sustained on a repetitive basis. Letter and category based retrieval are possible, including the classic FAS / Controlled Word Association. Verbal fluency is used mostly for assessment purposes where verbal capability (word finding) is present, but there is a question as to whether it can be sustained on a repetative basis. The fluidity of mental processing and the ability to produce different responses is required by this task. Many neuropsychologists use this as an index of frontal lobe functioning. FLUENCY calls for retrieval of information stored in semantic memory. Some sets (States in the US) are delimited, while others are vitually limitless (Boy's names). Through examination of the sequence of retrieval, one can address the individual's retrieval strategies.
This module addresses the retrieval of information about well-known people and events. It is a kind of trivia game exercise. QUEST is a comprehensive system for addressing Language disabilities. The modules in this series are designed for independent or supervised use by persons with language or information problems (e.g. aphasia) caused by a brain injury, stroke, infections or dementia (e.g., Alzheimer’s). This task is designed for persons having difficulty accessing remote memory. Questions calling for a unique one-word answer are organized into the following subject categories: ARTS, BIOGRAPHIES, GEOGRAPHY, HISTORY, LITERATURE, POLITICS, QUOTES, SCIENCE The areas are selected for the following purposes: 1) to reflect generally shared knowledge 2) to engage interest both specific (composers, for someone interested in music) and general, e.g. quotes such as:
'THERE ARE THREE KINDS OF LIES: LIES, DAMNED LIES AND _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _' --> "S T A T I S T I C S"