Neuropsychological Study of Spatial Memory Function in Aged and Brain damaged People

本研究的目的是检查老年人和脑损伤者的记忆功能。特别是，我们研究了与大脑额叶区有关的视觉空间记忆功能。研究结果在日本神经心理学会、日本心理学会等国内学术会议以及国际神经心理学会等国际学术会议上发表。本文主要研究内容包括：(1)记忆负荷与脑功能关系的研究；(2)超长时间时空记忆遗忘过程的研究。(3)考察记忆负荷与大脑半球间相互作用（双侧优势效应）的关系；(4)考察外围视野呈现的视觉刺激加工。我们还开发了三种神经心理测试（D-CAT、NNAA和语言流畅性测试），旨在定量和定性地评估认知功能。数字消去测试（D-CAT）是对注意力和记忆功能的筛选测试。D-CAT已经出版。名古屋大学神经心理评估（NNAA）是对注意力和记忆的子功能进行评估的深度测试。这个测试也计划很快发布。最后，我们为日本人开发了单词和字母流利度测试。我们准备了正常人的表现标准，目的是用于筛选在评价注意力和工作记忆作为一个功能的年龄。

The purpose of this study was to examine the memory function of the aged and brain damaged people. Especially, we examined the visuospatial memory function in relation to the frontal area of the brain. The results were presented at the many domestic conferences, such as Japanese neuropsychological association, Japanese Psychological Association, etc as well as at the international conferences such as the International Neuropsychological Society. The presented research findings related to (1) examination of the interrelations between memory load and brain function, (2) examination of the forgetting processes of the very long-term temporal and spatial memories. (3) examination of the relations between memory load and interhemispheric interaction (bilateral advantage effects), (4) examination of the visual stimulus processing presented at the peripheral visual field.We also developed three kinds of neuropsychological test (D-CAT, NNAA, and verbal fluency tests) which aimed to evaluate cognitive functions in both quantitatively and qualitatively. Digit Cancellation Test (D-CAT) is the screening test for attention and memory function. D-CAT has been published. Nagoya University Neuropsychological Assessment (NNAA) is the deep test for the evaluation of sub function of attention and memory. This test is also scheduled to be published soon. Finally, we developed word and letter fluency tests for Japanese people. We prepared normal people's performance criteria and aim to use for the screening in the evaluation of attention and working memory as a function of aging.