Materials
Ten puzzle pieces with Chinese and English words, six poem cards containing English words, a puzzle board, and a mini tape.
Shi 忆
Overview
This is a physical cognitive training game designed to teach Chinese elders (60+ years old) English in order to prevent Alzheimer’s disease. There are three parts in this game: learning vocabulary based on images, playing jigsaw puzzles, and learning a poem.
Alzheimer's Disease
Alzheimer’s disease is a chronic neurodegenerative disease that causes dementia in many elderly people. A brain affected by Alzheimer's disease has many fewer cells and many fewer connections among surviving cells than does a healthy brain. Patients’ symptoms may include memory loss, trouble in thinking logically, failing to take care of themselves, depression, and so on.
The Significance of the Name
- The Chinese character “忆 (yì)” means memory.
- “Shi” is a pinyin that can spell many Chinese characters with different meanings if changing its tone. Three characters derived from “shi,” combined with ”忆 (yì),” form three terms that encapsulate the main ideas of this game.
- “失 (shī)” is obtained by denoting “shi” with the macron ( ̄ ), meaning to lose. Thus, the term “失忆” can be translated as losing memories, which is dementia.
- “诗 (shī)” is obtained also by denoting “shi” with the macron ( ̄ ), meaning poetry. Thus, combining “诗” with “忆,” the term implies a sentence which is using poetry to recall memories. Moreover, two Chinese characters share the same pinyin and pronunciation with “忆 (yì)” are “意 (yì)” and “义 (yì).” Combining “诗” with “意“ and “义” respectively, the former “诗意” suggests being poetic, and latter “诗义” means the significance of the poem.
- “拾 (shí)” is obtained by denoting “shi” with the acute ( ́ ), meaning to pick up. Thus, the term “拾忆” indicates to regain one’s lost memories.
Rules
Chinese Version
English Version
What Benefits Each Section Has And How It Works?
1. Learning a second language improves cognitive reverse and thus protects against Alzheimer’s disease.
Cognitive reserve means the brain’s resilience against neural damage. Developed by Yaakov Stern, a professor of neuropsychology at Columbia University Medical Center, the concept of cognitive reverse underpins the promise of brain training that reduces the risk of Alzheimer’s disease (Stern, 2012). Inspired by Dr. Stern’s research, I wondered how learning another language can serve as a “mental gymnasium” to strengthen brain networks.
The first part of the game involves language learning. When the elderly patients study the English vocabs on poetry cards, they stimulate different cognitive abilities such as working memory, inductive reasoning, task switching, rule learning, and semantic memory (Ware et al., 2017). This cognitive exercise can improve neural plasticity and cognitive reverse, which then slows brain aging and prevents AD (Stern, 2009; Lazarov et al., 2005).
2. Jigsaw puzzles benefit the elderly by increasing cognitive reverse and reducing stress.
Jigsaw puzzling demands multiple cognitive abilities such as visual perception, mental rotation, cognitive flexibility, and perceptual reasoning. Studies show that cognitively stimulating experience can shape brain structure and function (Gelfo, et al., 2018). Therefore, jigsaw puzzles have neuroprotective benefits.
Moreover, this game can also release players’ stress, which will prevent them from developing chronic anxiety disorder that increases the risk of Alzheimer’s disease (Lupien et al., 2009; Wilson et al., 2011).
3. Further strengthening cognition
In this section, players will learn an English poem and how to pronounce each word by listening to the radio. They will practice speech segmentation and sound discrimination, which promotes the strengthening of brain networks.
4. Subordinate benefits
Reading poetry has calming effects
Elders Playing "Shi 忆"
Mrs. Kuang (Age 64)
Jinyu & Li (Age 76)
My Grandma (Age 85)
Implementation of Special Symbols
Chinese characters were originally pictograms and ideograms. Studies show that visual tools can greatly facilitate language learning (Krčelić & Matijević, 2015). Therefore, rather than using simplified Chinese characters, the game incorporates representative images, seal scripts, cleric scripts, and traditional Chinese characters, which are more artistic.
FAQ
1. Does language learning initiated in advanced adulthood still lead to cognitive improvement?
Language acquisition in later age still slows the aging of the brain (Thomas, et al,. 2014). Not only do young people benefit from mental stimulation, their aging brains can retain neuroplasticity (Antonious, 2017).
2. The game only teaches limited vocabulary rather than a complete new language system. Does proficiency affect cognitive performance?
Cognitive stimulating games have similar effects on non-balanced bilingual people and proficient bilingual people (Vega-Mendoza et al., 2015).
Text References
Antoniou, Mark, and Sarah M Wright. “Uncovering the Mechanisms Responsible for Why Language Learning May Promote Healthy Cognitive Aging.” Frontiers in psychology vol. 8 2217. 15 Dec. 2017, doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2017.02217
Ware, Caitlin et al. “Maintaining Cognitive Functioning in Healthy Seniors with a Technology-Based Foreign Language Program: A Pilot Feasibility Study.” Frontiers in aging neuroscience vol. 9 42. 1 Mar. 2017, doi:10.3389/fnagi.2017.00042
Stern, Yaakov. “Cognitive reserve.” Neuropsychologia vol. 47,10 (2009): 2015-28. doi:10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2009.03.004
Stern, Yaakov. “Cognitive reserve in ageing and Alzheimer's disease.” The Lancet. Neurology vol. 11,11 (2012): 1006-12. doi:10.1016/S1474-4422(12)70191-6
Lazarov O, Robinson J, Tang YP, Hairston IS, Korade-Mirnics Z, Lee VM, et al. Environmental enrichment reduces Abeta levels and amyloid deposition in transgenic mice. Cell. 2005;120:701–13.
Gelfo, F., Mandolesi, L., Serra, L., Sorrentino, G., and Caltagirone, C. (2018). The neuroprotective effects of experience on cognitive functions: evidence from animal studies on the neurobiological bases of brain reserve. Neuroscience 370, 218–235. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2017.07.065
Lupien, S., Mcewen, B., Gunnar, M., and Heim, C. (2009). Effects of stress throughout the lifespan on the brain, behaviour and cognition. Nat. Rev. Neurosci. 10, 434–445. doi: 10.1038/nrn2639
Wilson, R. S., Begeny, C. T., Boyle, P. A., Schneider, J. A., and Bennett, D. A. (2011). Vulnerability to stress, anxiety, and development of dementia in old age. Am. J. Geriatr. Psychiatry 19, 327–334. doi: 10.1097/JGP.0b013e31820119da
Thomas H Bak, Jack J Nissan, Michael M Allerhand and Ian J Deary. Does Bilingualism Influence Cognitive Aging? Annals of Neurology, June 2, 2014 DOI: 10.1002/ana.24158
Vega-Mendoza, Mariana, et al. “The Impact of Late, Non-Balanced Bilingualism on Cognitive Performance.” Cognition, vol. 137, 0AD, pp. 40–46., April 2015, doi:10.1016/j.cognition.2014.12.008.
Poetry & Hieroglyphic References
命 -- 郑固碑
生 -- 楚系簡帛文字編（增訂本）（湖北教育出版社），頁.行：587.7
秋 -- 《说文》
天 -- 《说文》一部
夏 -- 清 赵之谦《篆书铙歌册》
死 -- 《甲金篆》259页
亡 -- 《篆文表》903页
Life -- Zhenggu Monument
Sheng -- Chu Department Bamboo Slips and Silk Text Edition (Updated Edition) (Hubei Education Press), page. Line: 587.7
Autumn -- "Shuo Wen"
Heaven -- "Shuo Wen"
Summer -- Qing Dynasty Zhao Zhiqian's "Seal Script"
Dead -- Jiajin Seal, page. 259
Dead -- "Seal Text Table," page. 903
Stray Birds by Rabindranath Tagore, No. 1, 16, 82, 142, 188, 298
Tagore, Rabindranath. Stray Birds. Place of publication not identified: Macmillan, 1933. Print.
