Dialer Design
Memory Gallery
｜A Psychotherapy Tool for Traumatic Memory Reconstruction and Management
Combining GenAI and VR, Memory Gallery is grounded in the core principles of EMDR therapy while fully using the significant connections between visual recall, emotional regulation, and cognitive reconstruction.
Millions of people in the world are currently suffering from traumatic memories, which bring injury to both their physical and mental health.
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An estimated 69 million individuals worldwide sustain a traumatic brain injury each year
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In a random sample of 724 individuals across the United States, 72% reported experiencing some form of trauma, with 32% reporting delayed recall of the event
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In the criminal justice system, TBI prevalence varied widely, with rates between 12% and 87% for adults, and 23% to 87% for youths, suggesting a high burden of traumatic memories in these populations
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Traumatic stress affects brain structures involved in memory processing, such as the hippocampus and amygdala, causing alterations that contribute to the vividness and durability of traumatic memories, often experienced as flashbacks
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Trauma can lead to dissociative experiences, where individuals may split off parts of their self that are not fully mentalized, resulting in symptoms such as bodily pain, dissociative states, nightmares, and relational disturbances
Typically, just like our body can recover from physical injury, our mind can also heal from traumatic experiences. However, it will become tricky if the brain doesn't process and store the information properly.
Formation of traumatic memory
EMDR therapy is one of the most effective solutions. It's a structured and evidence-based psychotherapy that helps the brain reprocess these trapped memories so they no longer hold the same distressing power.
Since traumatic memories often manifest vividly as images that trigger intense emotional and physiological reactions. EMDR therapy specifically targets these images to guide the patient through creating new connections in the subconscious mind to finally neutralize the traumatic memory.
Process of EMDR therapy
However, current EMDR therapy still has some limitations for both the patient and the therapist.
Memory Gallery aims at providing better support in this process to help both patients and therapists.
Memory Gallery combines the immersive capabilities of VR with the creative power of generative AI to build a collaborative space for therapists and patients. In this space, therapists can guide patients to reprocess trapped memories by specifically targeting the vivid images held in their minds.
By capturing key elements from the patient's descriptions, the generative AI provides real-time visual feedback, offering a unique perspective devoid of human emotions and biases. The digital VR environment acts as a gateway to a four-dimensional world, allowing patients to explore, analyze, and manage their past experiences comprehensively.
All the images in the photo frames can be updated and each change will be recorded.
Memory Gallery itself is a growing space that record the entire memory neutralization process.
“Although new technologies are always resisted at the initial stage in psychotherapy, for example, before covid people couldn't accept having an online psychotherapy through zoom meeting. In most people’s mind, psychotherapy must be face-to-face with a counsellor. But now we see online therapy has become a very common form and is proved to be still effective.”
“The modern and younger generation of therapists are quite open and creative. While using the old theories, they are trying to combine them with new methods and forms. ”
Based on the basic strategy of combining memory reconstruction and management through GenAI and VR, this tool can have borader application area in the future.
The current three elements can all be expanded.
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