Use of a digital memory prosthetic to support autobiographical memory in down syndrome - PROJECT SUMMARY
Down syndrome is the most common genetic cause of intellectual disability (Hawli et al., 2009),
associated with significant developmental delays (Carr, 1988) and a disproportionate deficit in hippocampally-
dependent memory (Godfrey & Lee, 2018; Pennington et al., 2003). Due to this memory impairment, individuals
with Down syndrome may have a difficulty remembering specific details from past events, a pattern known as
overgeneral autobiographical memory. This overgeneral memory makes it difficult for individuals with Down
syndrome to share their past, can interfere with attempts to becoming more independent (Holland et al., 2016;
Sheldon et al., 2011), and leads to increases in anxiety and depression (Waters 2014; King et al., 2019; Latorre
et al., 2013).
Although widespread advances in medical and behavioral research have dramatically increased the
expected lifespan and quality of life for individuals with Down syndrome (Patterns & Costa, 2005), research
examining ways to mitigate these substantial memory impairments has not capitalized on recent developments
in the understanding of human memory. In the current research, the investigators test whether a new, user-
friendly smartphone application—HippoCamera—can enhance specific autobiographical memory in individuals
with Down syndrome. In HippoCamera, users are asked to record and replay events from their daily lives. This
replay is curated by a research-based algorithm in HippoCamera that optimizes consolidation of memories
over time and targets the specific memory details that are often lacking in individuals with hippocampal
disfunction.
The current project focuses on two potential benefits of HippoCamera in Down syndrome: 1) Increased
memory specificity of daily events that are recorded and replayed by the participant using HippoCamera, and
2) Global enhancements in memory specificity for all autobiographical memories following a 12-week
HippoCamera intervention. Prior research in older adults with and without cognitive decline has shown
significant increases in memory specificity following a HippoCamera intervention (Martin et al., 2022). It is,
therefore, likely that similar enhancements in autobiographical memory specificity will be identified in
individuals with Down syndrome, highlighting the benefits of the application in this population. Exploratory
analyses will further explore whether HippoCamera may also support increased positive sentiment for recorded
memories (Martin et al., 2022) or more general increases in participant well-being and autonomy.
