Memory for staged events: supporting older and younger adults’ memory with SenseCam

Two experiments measured the effect of retrieval support provided by a wearable camera, SenseCam, on older and younger adults’ memory for a recently experienced complex staged event. In each experiment participants completed a series of tasks in groups and the events were recalled two weeks later, after viewing SenseCam images (experimental condition) or thinking about the event (control condition). When IQ and education were matched, young adults recalled more event details than older adults, demonstrating an age-related deficit for novel autobiographical material. Reviewing SenseCam images increased the number of details recalled by older and younger adults, and the effect was similar for both groups. These results suggest that memory can be supported by the use of SenseCam, but the age-related deficit is not eliminated.