Prospective Memory Training Using the Nao Robot in People with Dementia

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the ability of a robot to conduct cognitive training in elderly people with dementia. Fifty-two institutionalized elderly people were recruited and invited to participate in prospective memory training sessions, with or without a robot. They were divided into two equivalent groups in terms of age, level of education and MMSE score. Before and after the intervention phase, neuropsychological assessment was performed on each participant, including several cognitive and non cognitive (self-esteem) evaluations. Moreover, the sessions were recorded in order to compare the interaction behaviors of the 2 groups, using a validated observation grid. Results showed that: 1) the presence of the robot increases the interaction behaviors of the participants during the sessions (such as smiling, laughing, nodding, reaching out to others, talking, etc.); 2) That prospective memory training resulted in a significant increase of prospective memory performance, attentional abilities and executive functioning, but this improvement did not differ between the 2 groups These findings confirm the positive impact of a robot as a mediator of cognitive training, but suggest that further research is necessary to determine the effectiveness of these tools, in comparison with traditional training with humans.