Autobiographical memory and amnesia: Using conceptual knowledge to ground the self

Abstract

A case of retrograde amnesia, PJM, elucidated the relationship between self, episodic memory and autobiographical knowledge. Results from a variety of measures including the I Am Memory Task (IAM Task), where memories are cued by self-generated self concepts, demonstrate that PJM has a coherent, continuous sense of self, despite having lost episodic memories for an 18-month period. Her use of conceptual autobiographical knowledge, in episodic tasks and to support aspects of identity, shows how autobiographical knowledge can support the self when episodic memories are inaccessible. These results are discussed with relation to current neuropsychological models of self and memory.

Autobiographical memory and the self in a single-case of chronic unilateral spatial neglect

“…Previous research in cognitive neuropsychology highlights the relevance of exploring AM in clinical conditions because of its impact on daily life functioning, for instance leading to distress in social situations or frustration when not being able to remember (Ernst et al, 2014;Rathbone, Moulin, & Conway, 2009). …”

Who am I? Autobiographical retrieval improves access to self-concepts

“…We suggest that our findings, together with those of previous work (e.g. Klein & Loftus, 1990, 1993bRathbone et al, 2009), can be interpreted in relation to the Self-Knowledge and Identity Model (SKIM Model; Haslam, Jetten, Haslam, Pugliese & Tonks, 2011), which proposes that Òsemantic self-knowledge mediates a bidirectional relationship between episodic selfknowledge and identityÓ (Haslam et al, 2011, p. 184). It may be the case, that as has been shown with knowledge, self-concepts undergo a process of semanticisation, encoded initially as a response to a particular event or occurrence, but that over time, the trait, quality or disposition becomes a more enduring and context-free aspect of personality.…”

“…Similarly, Rathbone, Moulin and Conway (2009) provide further support in their consideration of self in a case of retrograde amnesia; the authors demonstrate how conceptual autobiographical knowledge is used to support the self in the absence of episodic memory. Perhaps the most convincing evidence comes from work with patient K.C.…”

“…This task has proven useful in demonstrating how the self plays an organizational role in memory (e.g. Rathbone et al, 2008), and how self-concept is intact in traumatic brain injury (Rathbone, Moulin & Conway, 2009), but diminished in autism (Tanweer, Rathbone & Souchay, 2010). In order to examine the accessibility of self-concept statements, the original I Am Memory Task was modified such that participants are given one minute to generate as many statements as possible beginning with the phrase I am.…”

Implausible future events in a confabulating patient with an anterior communicating artery aneurysm

“…The importance of motivational aspects of confabulation is demonstrated by the inclusion of personal biases in several recent cognitive formulations of confabulation (see Gilboa et al, 2006;Metcalf, Langdon & Coltheart., 2007;Fotopoulou et al, 2007bFotopoulou et al, , 2008. Several experimental studies provide support for the role of the self in autobiographical memories (Rathbone et al, 2008(Rathbone et al, , 2009) and future events (Rathbone et al, 2011). Recent evidence examining how the contents of long term memory are sampled to imagine future events (Szpunar & McDermott, 2008) indicates that inaccurate future plans could reflect distorted autobiographical memories.…”