Autobiographical memory in multiple sclerosis patients: Assessment and cognitive facilitation

Abstract

The multifocal nature of lesions in multiple sclerosis hints at the occurrence of autobiographical memory (AbM) impairment. However, the dearth of studies on AbM in multiple sclerosis is noticeable, notwithstanding the importance of AbM in everyday life. In the first section of this study, 25 multiple sclerosis patients and 35 controls underwent a detailed episodic AbM assessment. Results obtained by means of ANOVA suggested an AbM retrieval deficit in every patient. That pattern of performance paved the way for the second section of the study, in which we followed up 10 out of the 25 patients. Our objective was to assess the effectiveness of a cognitive facilitation programme designed to alleviate AbM retrieval deficits, based on the key role of mental visual imagery on AbM. Statistical group analyses by means of ANOVA and individual analyses using the χ 2 test showed significant differences in AbM test results, in post-facilitation relative to pre-facilitation training, in all 10 patients. Moreover, the patients' comments showed that the positive effects were transferred in their daily life functioning. We would like to suggest that the facilitation programme efficiently enhanced the process of selfcentred mental visual imagery, which might have compensated for poor retrieval of personal memories by providing better access to visual details and detailed visual scenes of personal recollections.

Benefits from an autobiographical memory facilitation programme in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients: a clinical and neuroimaging study

“…In keeping with previous studies (Ernst et al, 2013 patients from the experimental group showed improved AM performance after facilitation, with an effective transfer of benefits to daily functioning (see also . The benefit of the MVI programme was specific to internal details, namely details that are episodic in nature, which were the primary focus of this intervention.…”

“…Ernst et al (2013 obtained the first results using this programme and reported positive outcomes on AM functioning that was accompanied by an effective transfer in daily life functioning, counteracting the deleterious impact of AM impairment previously reported by the patients, and with a long-term robustness of treatment effect.…”

“…AM corresponds to the ability mentally to re-experience personal detailed events within a specific spatio-temporal context (Tulving, 2002) and it has a pivotal role in daily life functioning, especially for the construction and maintenance of personal identity across time, relationships or goal-directed behaviours (Rasmussen & Habermas, 2011). A critical finding in MS patients is that AM impairment has been reported even in the early stages of the disease and in the context of preserved general cognitive functioning, including anterograde memory (Ernst, Blanc, De Seze, et al, 2014;Ernst, Blanc, Voltzenlogel, et al, 2013). According to these studies, AM could be particularly sensitive to MS pathology but is very rarely explored in clinical routine.…”

“…Regarding the latter, a more recent line of research has highlighted that retrograde memory, and especially autobiographical memory (AM), is frequently impaired in MS patients Ernst, Blanc, De Seze, et al, 2014;Ernst et al, 2013;Müller et al, 2013). AM corresponds to the ability mentally to re-experience personal detailed events within a specific spatio-temporal context (Tulving, 2002) and it has a pivotal role in daily life functioning, especially for the construction and maintenance of personal identity across time, relationships or goal-directed behaviours (Rasmussen & Habermas, 2011).…”

“…Using the MVI programme (Ernst et al, 2013, we expected a significant AM improvement in RR-MS patients and that this clinical benefit would be accompanied by significant functional and structural changes within the AM brain network (prefrontal cortex, medial and lateral temporal cortices, parieto-occipital regions and the temporo-parietal junction; see Svoboda, McKinnon, & Levine, 2006 for a review). Specifically, we hypothesised that (1) main functional and structural changes after facilitation would be observed in the posterior brain regions, given their role in MVI processes and (2) that these changes would not be observed after a control programme, where no AM improvement is expected.…”