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Comparison of memory between blind and sighted individuals

Background: One of the current challenges in sensory aids for blind pertains to the possible visual acuity and capacity which can be transmitted through various restoration approaches. Behavioral studies have shown that visual perception is not essential for an efficient development of working memory suggesting other sensory modalities that might compensate by providing necessary spatial information. 

Aims and Objectives: The aims of this study were as follows: (1) To study and compare verbal memory in blind and sighted individuals. (2) To study and compare spatial memory in blind and sighted individuals. 

Materials and Methods: Study group – consisted of total 21 adventitiously blind subjects (12 males and nine females) taken from blind school, in age group of 18–27 years. Control group – consisted of total 64 apparently healthy sighted subjects (37 males and 27 females) obtained from large tertiary care teaching hospital in Pune. Every subject to perform (a) verbal memory test and (b) spatial memory test. Data were recorded by taking help of any person who was blinded to study and results of the previous research done. All results were recorded in a pre-specified format. Data were tabulated. Results had been analyzed using unpaired test by SPSS version 16. 

Results: The sighted subjects performed the verbal memory test (C4 and C5) significantly better (P < 0.05) (more letters recalled) than the non-sighted subjects. The sighted subjects performed the spatial memory test significantly better (less time taken) than the non-sighted subjects.

Conclusions: While verbal memory or the auditory memory was tested, it was found that 60% of the times, there was no difference in the outcome of the test between both the groups. However, remaining 40% of the times, non-sighted, or the study group were able to perform better. Results of the spatial memory test revealed that 80% of the times, sighted group performed significantly better than the non-sighted group.