Research Proposal on "Effect of Environment on Memory Recall Using a Light Therapy Experiment"

Research Proposal 8 pages (2139 words) Sources: 15 Style: APA

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Environment on Memory Recall: Light Therapy Experiment

Light therapy is becoming increasingly acknowledged to have an impact on various conditions known to mankind. For example, light therapy is increasingly being used in assisting shift workers who have difficulty sleeping to reestablish their circadian rhythm following shift work and swing shift work. Light therapy has been used and shown effective in treating what is commonly known as the 'winter blues' or depression that is related to cold weather and reduced natural light in the environment. This study examines light therapy in relation to the impact that this therapy has on the individual memory recall.

Because light therapy is so very effective in treatment of such a wide range of diseases and conditions, light also must play a role in the individuals' memory recall therefore, brighter light will result in better memory recall among a group of individuals as compared to a group of individuals who are recalling events from memory in darkened or muted light.

METHODOLOGY

The methodology in the study reported in this work is of a qualitative study conducted with the experimental and control group. Qualitative analysis is utilized in this particular study because the data provided by participants is descriptive in nature and therefore, the method of analysis in this study is interpretative in nature.

The forty participants in this study were split into two groups for the purposes of this experiment. The first group went outside for approximately twenty minutes and the second group remained inside a darkened classroom. The participants in each group were asked to write about a childhood memory. The participants writings concerning their memory were reviewed by the researcher and an assistant and the responses to the subject the participants were asked about were analyzed according to the details provided as the participants described their memory from childhood and according to the adjectives or descriptive words used which included that concerning:

1) color;

2) smell;

3) texture;

4) temperature; and 5) feelings.

SAMPLING/PARTICIPANTS

There were 40 participants in this study all of whom were of the age eighteen years or older.

LITERATURE REVIEW

The work of Bersani, et al. (2008) entitled: "Pilot Study of Light Therapy and Neurocognitive Performance of Attention and Memory in Healthy Subjects" relates a study with the purpose of investigating whether light therapy improved healthy subjects' neurocognitive performance of attention, memory, and language." (Bersani, et al., 2008) This study reports that ten subjects were treated with bright light for five days and a control group of ten individuals received no treatment. Assessment was conducted with a "battery of neurocognitive tests which included the following:

Strooper Colour Word Interference Test

The Verbal Fluency Test;

The Story Recall Test; and the Words Pairs Recall Test." (Bersani, et al., 2008)

Analysis in this study showed "improvements in cognitive scores in both groups, although on all the cognitive tests the mean difference scores between baseline and endpoint were significantly larger in the light-treated group. These preliminary results suggest that short-term bright light may exert beneficial effects on cognitive functions," (Bersani, et al., 2008)

The work of Takao, Hiroshi, Ritsuko and Shunkichi (1999) entitled: "Effects of Bright Light on Cognitive Disturbances in Alzheimer-type Dementia" reports a study that examined the "effectiveness of bright light therapy on cognitive disturbances and its effect on circadian (sleep-wake) rhythm in Alzheimer-type dementia (ATD)." This study involved 27 patients with ATD who were treated with bright light therapy for four consecutive weeks each morning.

The cognitive functions and circadian rhythms of the patients as a whole were evaluated. It is stated that assessed were "assessed circadian rhythms by actigraphy and cognitive states by Mini-Mental-State Examination (MMSE) and Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale (ADAS) before and after light therapy. Bright light therapy improved circadian rhythm." (Takao, Hiroshi, Ritsuko and Shunkichi, 1999)

Findings reported in this study stated that while "...bright light therapy had no Significant effect on the Severity of dementia, it improved the MMSE scores, cognitive functions of ADAS scores (memory>language) and non-cognitive functions of ADAS scores (behavior.IMAGE.mood), especially in the questionable and mild dementia group. These results suggest that bright light therapy improves cognitive functions with the modification of circadian rhythm, especially in the early stages of ATD." (Takao, Hiroshi, Ritsuko and Shunkichi, 1999)

The work of Moore (1974) entitled: "Visual Pathways and the Central Neural Control of Diurnal Rhythms" found that the optic nerve "travels from the retina, past the pituitary gland via the temporal lobe to the occipital lobe of the brain. This part of the visual system is dedicated to informing the conscious brain of our surroundings." Moore (1974) additionally stated findings that there is "an additional nerve bundle" that leads "directly from the retina to the hypothalamus." This is stated to explain the physiological effects of color as follows:

Blue - stimulates the anterior hypothalamus, which harbors the main regulating part of the parasympathetic nervous system. This means that all colors in the bluish spectrum - from blue/green through blue to violet - normally have a sedating, digestion-activating, sleep-inducing effect;

Red simulates the posterior hypothalamus and therefore the sympathetic nervous system. Red provokes anger. All colors in the red spectrum - from magenta through red/orange to yellow - have a stimulating, sometimes even provocative, character; and Green mediates between both systems. (Moore, 1974)

The work of Dietrich Klinghardt, MD, PhD states the work of Norman (1990) notes the changes that occur in the "...concentration of neurotransmitters in the cerebro-spinal fluid: norepinephrin, serotonin, beta-endorphin, cholinesterase, melatonin, oxytocin, growth-hormone, LH, prolactin and progesterone." (Norman, 1990; as cited in Klinghardt, nd) These results explain why the treatment with color projection into the eye can have a profound effect on the hormonal system, the emotions, stress levels, sleep, brain function, and many other aspects of the patient's biochemistry and well-being. The profound effect of light stimulation to the retina on the body's metabolism has long been established through the work of the brilliant German ophthalmologist Fritz Hollwich, M.D., Ph.D. (Hollwich, 1985; as cited in Klinghardt, nd)

It was reported in December 2008 by the Natural News journal that treatment of Alzheimer's through light therapy has been found to be effective in assisting the brain functioning (or memory) of individuals who have Alzheimer's. In fact, two specific studies have raised the possibility that the progression of Alzheimer's disease can be treated successfully with a combination of therapies that includes light therapy. (Baker, 2008)

The work of Michalon, Eskes, and Mate-Kole (1997) entitled: "Effects of Light Therapy on Neuropsychological Function and Mood in Seasonal Affective Disorder" states that previously there has been little in the way of attention to the changes that occur in neuropsychological function in seasonal affective disorders (SAD)." Therefore, Michalon, Eskes, and Mate-Kole reported having investigated thirty patients and their performance with SAD "on a wide range of cognitive variables before and after 2 weeks of light treatment with either white or placebo red light, as well as later in the summertime." (1997) the study reported by Michalon, Eskes, and Mate-Kole is one that was conducted through comparison of the performance of subjects in two groups that were matched by age, health status and education. Findings in this study related that the most consistent deficits associated with SAD were on tests of cognitive failures, visual memory, and visual-construction skills. In contrast to specific bright light effects on psychiatric measures, reports of cognitive failures did not change with either light treatment. Visual memory and constructional deficits responded nonspecifically to treatment with either white or the presumed placebo red light. Surprisingly, visual memory deficits were seen again in the summer, at a time when mood, cognitive failures, and other cognitive functions appeared at normal levels. These data suggest that cognitive functioning is affected by SAD. In addition, light treatment may have differential effects on mood and cognition." (Michalon, Eskes, and Mate-Kole, 1997)

RATIONALE of the STUDY

It is clear from the literature reviewed in this study that light therapy is an effective therapy or treatment for many different ailments known to humankind. Light therapy effectiveness extends to cognitive function in a range that also extends to physical function, and even physiological function. These findings indicate that light therapy would also serve to be effective in the recall of memories of the individual which has provided momentum in the attempt to ascertain the impact that differentiated light would have on the memory recall of study participants specifically in regards to recall of childhood memories.

DATA COLLECTION & ANALYSIS

The data collected in this study has been through means of the participants in each group writing down their childhood memory during the brief 20-minute memory recall session. Twenty participants were in the group that was sent outside into the daylight to write their memory recall of a childhood event and twenty participants were sent to a darkened classroom to write their memory recall of a childhood event.

The participants' memory recalls were reviewed by the researcher and an assistant in this study and each time the participant used one of… READ MORE

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