Time moves in one direction, memory in another

One thing that has surprised me over the course of this summer semester was learning about, and witnessing how implicit memory, also known as emotional memory, is preserved during the aging process. According to Occupational Therapy with Elders, primary aging includes a slowing of information processing and psychomotor speed, decline in abstract thought, divided attention, etc. Seniors may also face more severe issues associated with secondary aging or dementia, but no matter what degree of cognitive decline they face, emotional memories are spared.

The emotional experiences that we have, whether they be good or bad, leave an imprint on the brain. This means that people may forget details associated with day to day life, but they can recall the emotions associated with significant life experiences. This can vary from remembering the happiness associated with their first date, the sadness of a loved one passing away, or the laughter associated with the visits from a Occupational Therapy student.

I was privileged to witness this preservation of emotional memories a few times over the course of this semester. Once was during a conversation with a resident at our fieldwork site, Mrs P., who had dementia. During my conversations with Mrs. P she had trouble putting events in her life in chronological order. She would often tell me that she worked for IBM beginning in the 1990's, but she also showed me her IBM key card which was dated 1978. During the course of my conversation with her one day, I stumbled across an emotional memory while asking her several abstract questions which she was unable to answer. I asked her if she had any regrets in life, and the smile drained from her face. She frowned and said, "Staying with my first husband as long as I did." She then told me how he was abusive, and how she finally worked up the nerve to leave him one day. She said that it was either leave him, or kill him! Clearly the memories of her first husband are more positive than negative.

Another occasion was during a visit Central Regional Hospital, and a conversation that some classmates and I struck up with a resident. This particular resident was recalling to us what brought him to Central Regional, what sort of ailments he had, as well as other details about his family and childhood, when one of us asked him about marriage history. Well, you've never seen a man light up and smile more than this resident did as he salaciously regaled us with his sordid dating history. Clearly we stumbled across emotional memories that delighted this resident....and made us blush!

I also witnessed emotional memories surface when I asked my client, Mrs H., about food....in particular Lexington bbq. While working with Mrs. H. one afternoon I asked her where she was from; her reply was Lexington, N.C. I asked her, "They make a lot of bbq there don't they?" Her reply surprised me when she looked into my eyes, smiled, and said "Oh yes, sugarbaby!" She then told me how she loved to get bbq sandwiches and hushpuppies from a restaurant in Lexington, and that she was going to take me home and make bbq for me! After seeing her light up, I may never look at a bbq sandwich the same way again.

No matter what stage of life or cognitive level we are in, we will all have emotional memories that will linger on.