I chose to research the effects of different factors on memory. In the key paper for the topic I selected, Lin Luo and Fergus Craik explain how certain aspects of working memory, such as the ability to manipulate items held in the mind, are disproportionately affected by aging (Luo & Craik, 2008). This aspect of working memory intrigued me because I remembered hearing an NPR segment, recently, that reported on some of the benefits of spending time in a natural environment, including lowered levels of activity in the prefrontal cortex, which could theoretically translate into short-term memory gains (Anderson, 2016). I am planning a career in gerontological social work after graduate school and I am interested in exploring methods that will help facilitate greater well-being in the elderly population. Can the working memory of older adults be improved by spending time outdoors, or by passively enjoying the view?
I hypothesize that visual exposure to natural scenery will improve working memory of seniors. In this study, the independent variable would be the level of visual exposure to natural scenery. The dependent variable would be working memory function. A few problems that might be associated with researching this topic include bureaucratic hurdles such as HIPPA privacy …show more content…
between the ages of 65-75) from an assisted living facility or other senior living community. There would be two groups of seniors, one that received the exposure to natural scenery and one that did not. The treatment and testing room could be a sparsely decorated office with a large window that opens to a grassy, leafy scene that is unimpeded by man-made artifacts. For the group receiving no treatment, an uninteresting curtain could be pulled over the window. After the “treatment” period (a predetermined number of minutes), subjects would have their working memory tested by a method that has already proved reliable in older
I hypothesize that visual exposure to natural scenery will improve working memory of seniors. In this study, the independent variable would be the level of visual exposure to natural scenery. The dependent variable would be working memory function. A few problems that might be associated with researching this topic include bureaucratic hurdles such as HIPPA privacy …show more content…
between the ages of 65-75) from an assisted living facility or other senior living community. There would be two groups of seniors, one that received the exposure to natural scenery and one that did not. The treatment and testing room could be a sparsely decorated office with a large window that opens to a grassy, leafy scene that is unimpeded by man-made artifacts. For the group receiving no treatment, an uninteresting curtain could be pulled over the window. After the “treatment” period (a predetermined number of minutes), subjects would have their working memory tested by a method that has already proved reliable in older