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Acquired Brain Injury (ABI), an important cause of long-term disability, is associated with increased rates of depression in addition to common cognitive and physical consequences. Past research has linked post-ABI depression to injury severity (e.g., extent of physical or cognitive impairment) and premorbid mood problems. In the general (non-ABI) population, depression is associated with cognitive vulnerabilities that have informed the development of psychological interventions. In this observational study in a heterogeneous sample of individuals with chronic stage ABI, we examine two cognitive vulnerabilities – dysfunctional attitudes (DAs) and autobiographical memory specificity – and explore whether these are linked to depression symptoms and ongoing cognitive difficulties as in the general population. Compared to control participants, individuals with an ABI demonstrated increased endorsement of DAs and reduced specificity of autobiographical memory recall. Within the ABI group, cognitive vulnerability–depression symptom correlations were detected for an explicit measure of DAs, but not for a more implicit DA measure or for autobiographical memory specificity. While individual differences in injury severity and other factors likely obscured subtle relationships between mood and cognitive vulnerabilities, evidence of these vulnerabilities may be relevant to changes in identity and psychological interventions that target low mood in ABI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the case of a defendant accused of homicide who exhibited amnesia, mental health difficulties and widespread cognitive impairments, casting doubt on his fitness to stand trial. Court-ordered assessments opined that he was unfit to stand trial. This paper describes further assessment, and the creation of a novel forced-choice performance validity test (PVT) specific to the defendant’s autobiographical memory and legal circumstances. Symptom validity tests (SVT) were administered to assess the veracity of observed mental health phenomena. The obtained results indicated statistically below chance performance and the feigning of several phenomena. To aid the Court, cumulative binomial probability values were also presented. The paper describes the findings made by the sentencing and appellate courts. It concludes by recommending, with reference to this case study, the use of recently proposed Multidimensional Malingering Criteria for Neurocognitive, Somatic, and Psychiatric Malingering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) resulting from direct experience of a severe injury, such as the sudden death of a family member, can significantly impact a person's health by altering cognition, exacerbate grief symptoms and impaired autobiographical memory. Several studies have investigated the effects of cognitive processing therapy (CPT) on reducing PTSD symptoms caused by bereavement and cognitive programming, but none have specifically examined the impact of this therapeutic approach on grief symptoms and autobiographical memory. Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluation of the effectiveness of CPT on the autobiographical memory and grief experience in Covid-19 survivors with PTSD which have suffering from breavement. Methods: The method of the current research was a quasi-experimental pre-test-post-test control group design and the study population included Covid-19 survivors with symptoms of PTSD in Shiraz in 1400, who lost a family member and were diagnosed with PTSD, based on The Mississippi PTSD Scale (Kean, Caddelle, & Taylor, 1988). Thirty people were selected by purposeful sampling and divided into two experimental and control groups. The experimental group underwent cognitive processing therapy in 12 sessions of 90 minutes, and the control group did not receive any intervention. The data collection tools were The Mississippi PTSD Scale (Kean, Caddelle, & Taylor, 1988), Grief Experience Questionnaire (GEQ) (Barrett & Scott, 1989) and Autobiographical Memory Test (AMT) (Williams & Broadbent, 1986). Data analysis was done by one-way analysis of covariance in SPSS-27 software. Results: The results showed that the experimental group demonstrated significant decreases in GEQ scores and significant improvements in AMT scores for positive, negative, and neutral word classes (P< 0.05). Conclusion: The findings suggest that CPT, by developing a deep understanding of the traumatic experience, is an effective intervention for reducing grief symptoms and improving autobiographical memory performance in bereaved individuals with PTSD symptoms. Therapists should consider CPT as a viable treatment option for this population [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: One of the important cognitive functions is memory. Memory is the process by which information is encoded, stored, and recalled later. Some personality traits, such as perfectionism, due to their positive or negative effects on mood, can act as a mediating or modulating variable on cognitive processes such as types of memory, and even cause cognitive biases in these processes. However, there are few researches on the effect of mood induction regarding the characteristics of maladaptive perfectionism. Aims: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of positive and negative mood induction on working, autobiographical, and semantic memory in individuals with maladaptive perfectionism. Methods: This research was a semi-experimental type with a pre-test-post-test design with a control group. The statistical population in this research was all the students of Payam Noor University in the center of Tehran in the academic year 2022-2023. The statistical sample consisted of 30 students who were selected using purposive sampling and randomly assigned to three groups: positive mood (10 people), negative mood (10 people), and neutral mood (10 people). Subjects completed Kirchner’s working memory (N-BACK), verbal fluency (GhasemianShirvan et al, 2018), and historical memory retrieval (Williams & Broadbent,1986) tests before and after mood induction. The data were analyzed by covariance analysis using SPSS-26 software. Results: The results of data analysis showed that positive mood induction can improve working memory scores in people with maladaptive perfectionism. Also, the induction of negative mood can reduce the scores of working memory and semantic memory in people with maladaptive perfectionism (p<0.05). Conclusion: Based on the results of the present study, positive and negative mood conditions in interaction with the personality trait of maladaptive perfectionism affect a person's memory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study extends research on adult narrative identity in two major ways. First, it focuses on Adult Third Culture Kids (ATCKs), which refer to individuals who spent a part of their early developmental years abroad. In spite of the fact that they are an important demographic to study in this rapidly globalizing world, they have tended to be neglected in the field of psychology. Second, this study incorporates the cutting-edge tools of automated language analysis to extract developmental themes from autobiographical narratives using a bottom-up exploratory approach, as well as to identify psychological patterns and processes associated with the themes. The participants (N = 350; 18–80 + years old) were recruited from an alumni office of an international school and asked to write a narrative about the impact their international experiences had on their development. The meaning extraction method (MEM) yielded four developmental themes, which were remarkably consistent with the recurring themes that emerge from past research on adult narrative identity as well as ATCKs: past focus, communion, agency, and global focus. These four developmental themes, in turn, showed theoretically coherent patterns of relations with the demographic variables, linguistic markers of psychological patterns and processes, as well as self-reports of dimensions of well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Music listening can evoke a range of extra-musical thoughts, from colors and smells to autobiographical memories and fictional stories. We investigated music-evoked thoughts as an overarching category, to examine how the music's genre and emotional expression, as well as familiarity with the style and liking of individual excerpts, predicted the occurrence, type, novelty, and valence of thoughts. We selected 24 unfamiliar, instrumental music excerpts evenly distributed across three genres (classical, electronic, pop/rock) and two levels of expressed valence (positive, negative) and arousal (high, low). UK participants (N = 148, Mage = 28.68) heard these 30-second excerpts, described any thoughts that had occurred while listening, and rated various features of the thoughts and music. The occurrence and type of thoughts varied across genres, with classical and electronic excerpts evoking more thoughts than pop/rock excerpts. Classical excerpts evoked more music-related thoughts, fictional stories, and media-related memories, while electronic music evoked more abstract visual images than the other genres. Positively valenced music and more liked excerpts elicited more positive thought content. Liking and familiarity with a style also increased thought occurrence, while familiarity decreased the novelty of thought content. These findings have key implications for understanding how music impacts imagination and creative processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Humans have a proclivity for storytelling and narration. Although a lot of attention in the field of episodic memory focuses on the mnemonic content of narratives, memory narratives are not just for conveying the past. Instead, narratives provide a vehicle for meaning-making, social connection, and other complex facets of human cognition and thinking. This short reflection piece discusses the importance of narratives in these diverse realms. In addition, it briefly touches on the role of memory narration in the modern digital era. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent theoretical perspectives have advanced that autobiographical memory processes are supported by interoception, the perception of internal bodily sensations. Yet, this relationship remains largely underexplored. The present study addressed this critical gap in the literature by systematically investigating the association between self-reported Interoceptive Sensibility and various individual differences measures of autobiographical memory. In Study 1, using a correlational approach in a large sample of participants (N = 247), we identified significant correlations between standardised measures of interoception and the general experience of autobiographical memory and the frequency of involuntary mental time travel. These associations remained significant even after controlling for potential confounding factors in terms of age, gender, and trait affectivity, underscoring their robustness. Study 2 replicated and extended the associations identified in Study 1 in another large participant sample (N = 257), further validating them by accounting for the potential confounding effect of well-being. Our findings demonstrate that individuals' ability to perceive and understand bodily signals robustly relates to how they experience autobiographical memories. By adopting an exploratory approach based on individual differences, our results provide novel and concrete insights into the association between interoception and autobiographical memory, providing a strong foundation for future investigations into the causal mechanisms connecting these two constructs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A small wearable camera, SenseCam, passively captured pictures from everyday experience that were later used to evaluate the accuracy and completeness of autobiographical memory. Nine undergraduates wore SenseCams that took pictures every 10 s for two days. After one week and one month, participants first recalled their experiences from specific time periods (timeslices), then reviewed the corresponding pictures to make corrections and report information omitted from initial recall. Results demonstrated the utility of wearable cameras as research tools, and illustrated several characteristics of everyday memory. Recall contents reflected the structure of undergraduate lives. Three different types of omissions were reported: neglected, reminded, and forgotten. Pictures stimulated memory, even for non-visual information (e.g., feelings, thoughts), increasing recall by 23%. The mean completeness of initial recall was 79% (upper bound), with at least 21% forgetting. Accuracy was self-scored by participants (M = 89%), and the mean error rate (11%) provided evidence against strong reconstructive and copy theories of memory. The characteristics of errors shed light on the cognitive processes underlying them. Ratings of recall (confidence, reliving, knowledge, and frequency) supported the episodic/semantic distinction, the dual-process theory of repetition, and reconstructive imagery. Metamemory measures showed a positive correlation between confidence and accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mother–child memory conversations are a nuanced and important factor in children's memory development. The current study focuses on maternal characteristics that are related to individual differences in maternal elaborative style. It also examines the role of maternal elaborative style in children's elaborativeness in the context of reminiscing and recounting. Two hundred and nine Turkish mothers (Mage= 36.32, SD = 4.99) and their 5- to 6-year-olds (Mage in months = 66.88, SD = 4.04) (110 girls, 99 boys) participated in the current study. Results revealed that maternal individuation and balanced self-construal type predicted maternal elaborativeness, which in turn predicted child elaborativeness in reminiscing and recounting. Yet, such a relation was not observed for maternal attachment styles or sensitivity. Findings suggested the importance of maternal individuation and balanced self-construal for mothers' and children's elaborativeness in memory conversations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Place is everywhere as geography, location, territory, and landscape permeates everyday encounter. In contrast, memory is embedded in the physical setting as the burgeoning narratives of cities. In recent instances, literary settings of novels and characters are interpretations of actual life events. An immigrant from New York City returns to Lagos after a long period in Teju Cole's Every Day is for the Thief (2007) and (2014) investigates the correlation of the past self within the present state of the setting. Exploring interrelated memories and places to revisit the sense of self, the present study aims to analyse how autobiographical memory distinguishes personal memory from social events and defines place attachment and identity in society. This article also explores the lack of conformity to the tendency to find the past self in different time and spatial aspects through which this research tries to bridge the past with the present using narrators' autobiographical memories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potential traumatic events, such as breast cancer, can influence autobiographical memory (AM), interrupting the continuity of narrative identity. AM is based on a hierarchical search across different levels of specificity that are indexed from top to bottom when a memory is retrieved. In the breast cancer field, non-specific AMs are an observed clinical phenomenon. In particular, breast cancer survivors report issues related to self-defining memories (SDMs), specific and significant AMs that evoke strong emotions and sensory details at the time of memory. SDMs are linked to life goals and facilitate adaptation to critical experiences, preserving the continuity of identity. This study explored the narrative identity integration process of breast cancer survivors, analyzing themes, specificity, and integrative meaning in SDMs. Ten women participated in an online group support program centered on the integration of AMs linked to the cancer journey. Participants were asked to assess their body image perceptions, filling out an online survey three times, in which they had to report three SDMs each time. A reflexive thematic analysis of the SDMs identified three main themes: the onset of breast cancer; the labeling of negative emotions, and changes in the body. The results indicated inhibited retrieval of specific episodes, fostering a progressive failure in memory characterization and the concurrent meaningmaking process. Participants struggled with connecting the memories to insights regarding their self and life, as well as relating the memories to external conditions and other individuals. Further studies might examine the impact of these difficulties on the psychological adjustment of BC long-term survivors. They could also explore cognitive reconstruction by reframing the memories and re-evaluating their traumatic meanings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research in the general population has shown that nostalgia is associated with greater wellbeing through increased authenticity. It is well documented that autistic versus non-autistic individuals experience reduced wellbeing. This is the first study to explore nostalgia in autistic people and whether nostalgia might support the wellbeing of autistic people in the same way as non-autistic. This study had two aims: (i) to explore the autistic experience of nostalgia (proneness, triggers of nostalgia, related affect) and (ii) to examine the interrelationships at trait level between nostalgia, authenticity and wellbeing in autistic and non-autistic young adults. Participants (n = 230) completed an online questionnaire and reported about their nostalgic experiences, wellbeing, authenticity and autistic traits. Participants also wrote about either a nostalgic oran ordinary memory and rated how happy they felt after reflecting on the memory. With regards to the interrelationships at trait level within the whole cohort, nostalgia was not associated with increased authenticity or wellbeing. In contrast, authenticity was associated with increased wellbeing. However, nostalgia was not associated with greater wellbeing through increased authenticity. Differences in these interrelationships between autistic and non-autistic individuals are also discussed. The autistic experience of nostalgia was similar to the non-autistic, with the exception that autistic participants were less prone to nostalgia. At state level, findings also suggested that reflecting on nostalgic memories may boost positive affect in autistic as well as non-autistic individuals. This study may have implications for boosting wellbeing in autistic people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is now well established that general information processing causes the activation of memories in the autobiographical memory system, and these memories on occasion emerge as involuntary autobiographical memories. This priming phenomenon has been dubbed semantic-to-autobiographical memory priming, and our goal in the current study was to examine the effects of cue/prime repetition on the production of involuntary autobiographical memories that were primed with semantic stimuli. In three experiments, participants were primed with words (e.g., cat), and then they were given an involuntary memory task (the vigilance task), which contained cues related to the primed stimuli. In Experiment 1, the cues were phrases containing the primes (e.g., getting a cat), which were presented one or five times. In Experiment 2, the cues were also phrases containing the primes (e.g., getting a cat), but they changed their context (e.g., feeding a cat), every time they repeated in the five-presentation condition. Experiment 3 also presented the cues one or five times, but the cues were replicas of the primes (e.g., cat). Consistent with predictions, greater priming was found in the five-presentation cue conditions in all three experiments, and Experiment 3 failed to find priming in the one-presentation cue condition, also consistent with predictions. We explain the findings in terms of semantic-to-autobiographical memory priming theory, and also argue that the results help explain the production of involuntary memories in everyday life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the many negative outcomes of anger, including physical aggression and violence, there is a need to improve treatment outcomes. As such, several treatment approaches were evaluated in this study. The autobiographical essay memory task (AEMT) was given to 157 participants on Amazon’s Mturk. Using a four (intervention) by three (state anger) mixed design, participants were randomly assigned to one of four conditions: control group (a distraction task), rumination, self-help Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), or progressive muscle relaxation (PMR). All participants were instructed to write an anger-evoking memory for ten minutes. Following this, participants were then asked to partake in their respective intervention. Using the State Anger Scale from the State-Trait Anger Expression-2, state anger was measured at baseline, after writing about the anger-evoking memory, and post-intervention. As expected, there was a significant difference across the three time points, p < .001, η2 = .30. Once the AEMT was completed, participants received an intervention. Participants indicated lower levels of state anger post-intervention compared to post-AEMT, p < .001; however, participants post-intervention still reported higher levels of state anger compared to baseline, p < .001. Using the LSD post-hoc test, participants in the rumination condition reported higher levels of state anger post-intervention compared to participants who engaged in PMR (p < .001), self-help REBT (p = .04), and the control condition (p < .001). There were no significant differences noted between PMR, self-help REBT, and the control conditions post-intervention. The AEMT was an effective tool to evoke state anger in a lab setting. Additionally, self-help REBT, PMR, and distraction are effective tools to decrease state anger. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the human brain to operate, populations of neurons across anatomical structures must coordinate their activity within milliseconds. To date, our understanding of such interactions has remained limited. We recorded directly from the hippocampus (HPC), posteromedial cortex (PMC), ventromedial/orbital prefrontal cortex (OFC), and the anterior nuclei of the thalamus (ANT) during two experiments of autobiographical memory processing that are known from decades of neuroimaging work to coactivate these regions. In 31 patients implanted with intracranial electrodes, we found that the presentation of memory retrieval cues elicited a significant increase of low frequency (LF < 6 Hz) activity followed by cross-regional phase coherence of this LF activity before select populations of neurons within each of the four regions increased high-frequency (HF > 70 Hz) activity. The power of HF activity was modulated by memory content, and its onset followed a specific temporal order of ANT→HPC/PMC→OFC. Further, we probed cross-regional causal effective interactions with repeated electrical pulses and found that HPC stimulations cause the greatest increase in LF-phase coherence across all regions, whereas the stimulation of any region caused the greatest LF-phase coherence between that particular region and ANT. These observations support the role of the ANT in gating, and the HPC in synchronizing, the activity of cortical midline structures when humans retrieve self-relevant memories of their past. Our findings offer a fresh perspective, with high temporal fidelity, about the dynamic signaling and underlying causal connections among distant regions when the brain is actively involved in retrieving self-referential memories from the past. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explores the integration of AI-generated imagery into digital mental health services. The authors introduce a concept called "AI-empowered imagery writing" (AIW), where users write sentences and an AI system generates corresponding art imagery that reflects the emotional context. They suggest that AIW could be a valuable intervention for mental health improvement, but more research is needed to verify its effectiveness and address potential risks. The authors emphasize the importance of collaboration between diverse fields to manage the risks and benefits of AI-generated imagery. Overall, AI-generated imagery has the potential to enhance mental health and well-being, but further investigation is required. [Extracted from the article]

Purpose: This study delves into the combined cognitive bias hypothesis in depression, exploring the interaction between negative attention, interpretation and memory biases. We aimed to assess whether modifying attention and interpretation bias would lead to congruent changes in memory bias, and to what extend and depth this causal effect can be. Method: Ninety-nine undergraduates underwent either a positive (PT) or negative (NT) four-day attention and interpretation bias training. A set of well-established post-training assessments including free recall, recognition, autobiographic memory, and self-reference encoding tasks were used to evaluate memory bias. Affective states were measured pre- and post-training. Results: Compared to PT, participants in NT correctly retrieved more negative trained stimuli, and falsely recognized more negative synonyms of trained terms. NT also exhibited an enhanced retrieval of negative autobiographical memory. No significant differences were found between NT and PT in self-referential encoding and retrieval bias, or affective states. Discussion: The results suggested an extensive and strong transfer effect from attention and interpretation bias modification to different facets of memory bias, being found in retrieving trained emotional stimuli, in memory intrusion of negative synonyms, and in autobiographic memory recall. The findings underscored the causality between three biases, supporting the combined cognitive bias hypothesis. It might also suggest an effective new approach to modify memory bias via attention and interpretation bias training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent research has shown that the activation of semantic memories leads to the activation of autobiographical memories. Known as semantic-to-autobiographical memory priming, this form of priming has been demonstrated to prime involuntary and voluntary autobiographical memories with a wide variety of different primes (i.e., various verbal and non-verbal stimuli). However, only verbal cues have been used in the memory measures, leaving open the question of how non-verbal cues might function. Our goal in the current study was to show that non-verbal cues are also involved in semantic-to-autobiographical memory priming. Participants were primed with words, and then they were treated to an involuntary autobiographical memory task (the vigilance task) where they received either word cues or pictorial cues. The results showed that both the word cues and the pictorial cues had captured primed involuntary memories on the vigilance task relative to controls. The results support the idea that semantic-to-autobiographical memory primes occur with both verbal and non-verbal cues, potentially indicating substantial cue diversity. The results also further support the idea that semantic-to-autobiographical memory priming may play an important role in the production of involuntary autobiographical memories in everyday life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main aim of this study, with two repeated measurements, was to analyze the development of autobiographical memory in a sample of 78 Spanish participants at ages 5 (Time 1; M = 62.43 months, range: 50–74 months) and 12 (Time 2; M = 142.71 months, range: 132–155 months). Data were collected on autobiographical memory and verbal functions. We analyzed the relation between language and autobiographical memory specificity from a longitudinal perspective and assessed the indirect effect of vocabulary in the relationship between age and specific memory at both temporal moments. The results showed that language skills were positively related with autobiographical memory specificity at preschool age, but not at the second measurement. Furthermore, vocabulary scores appear to mediate the relationship between age and autobiographical specificity when children are in the preschool years, but not later. These findings agree with previous research that consider preschool age to be a crucial period for the development of autobiographical memory and its relations with language, but once basic command of language is acquired, linguistic differences impact much less on individual differences in autobiographical specificity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autobiographical memory specificity is known to contribute to better mental health, social problem-solving, and episodic future thinking. While numerous studies have addressed variables that affect autobiographical memory specificity, little is known regarding the meta-memory processes that underpin memory retrieval. In this study, we introduced two meta-memory constructs, ease of retrieval judgments and anticipation of negative emotion evoked, which potentially affect autobiographical memory specificity. Participants (N = 109) first rated the ease of retrieval and anticipated emotions for positive and negative words used in a subsequent autobiographical memory test. We used the Optional Instructions of the Autobiographical Memory Test, in which participants were instructed that "specific memories are better, but other memories are permissible," allowing them to adjust how much cognitive effort they spent on generative retrieval after a failure of direct retrieval. They also self-judged whether each retrieval was generative (using additional cues with cognitive effort) or direct (immediate recall without much cognitive effort). Results showed that for generative retrieval, ease of retrieval was associated with greater specific and general memories and fewer omissions. A more negative anticipated emotion was associated with fewer specific memories and greater omissions, but was not with general memories. These results suggest that low retrievability and anticipated negative emotion prevent individuals from devoting efforts to generative retrieval. The lack of association between anticipated negative emotion and general memory calls into question the functional avoidance hypothesis regarding autobiographical memory specificity. We discussed how participants judged these meta-memories and directions for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies provide some evidence that recalling positive autobiographical memories can foster feelings of intimacy in social relationships. The present research aimed to extend this finding by examining the effects of negative relationship memories on current feelings of intimacy. In Study 1, 71 adults recalled either two positive or two negative events experienced with their partner. Intimacy (feelings of warmth, relationship closeness) was measured before and after remembering. Relationship closeness increased after recalling positive relationship memories, whereas feelings of warmth were reduced after the recall of negative relationship memories. In Study 2, 187 adults recalled two relationship conflicts and rated intimacy toward their partner (feelings of warmth, relationship closeness) before and after remembering. Replicating the findings of Study 1, we found feelings of warmth to be reduced after the recall of relationship conflicts. Relationship closeness was likely to decrease the more conflicts were considered personally significant and the more a person had used self-distraction to regulate their emotions during the conflict. Future research may identify personal characteristics that could explain why, for some people, the recall of negative relationship memories is hurtful, whereas it brings others closer to their partner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

La radiothérapie cérébrale peut entraîner des complications neurologiques à long terme, notamment des troubles mnésiques. L'objectif de cette étude prospective est d'évaluer l'impact de l'irradiation des tumeurs bénignes de la base du crâne situées à proximité des hippocampes sur la mémoire autobiographique. De 2016 à 2019, les patients atteints de méningiome du sinus caverneux ou d'un adénome hypophysaire et traités par irradiation normofractionnée, ont été inclus. Les patients ont eu une évaluation neuropsychologique complète initiale, à 1 an puis à 2 ans après le traitement. Les tests neuropsychologiques ont été convertis en Z-Score pour être comparables. Douze patients sur les 19 inclus ont eu une évaluation complète sur le plan neuropsychologique à 2 ans et ont fait l'objet de l'analyse. Sur le Test épisodique de mémoire du passé autobiographique (« TEMPau »), aucune différence significative à 2 ans de la mémoire autobiographique n'a été constatée, quelle que soit la période concernant cette mémoire. La dose moyenne hippocampique n'avait pas d'impact sur la variation de la mémoire autobiographique. Il n'existait pas de dégradation cognitive significative dans les autres domaines évalués comme l'attention, la mémoire antérograde, la mémoire de travail et les fonctions exécutives. La mémoire autobiographique était indépendante de ces autres domaines cognitifs, ce qui justifie de son étude spécifique. La radiothérapie de la base du crâne pour une pathologie bénigne n'entraîne pas de différence de mémoire autobiographique à 2 ans. Un suivi plus long serait nécessaire afin de conforter ces résultats. Cranial irradiation can lead to long-term neurological complications, in particular memory disorders. The aim of this prospective study is to evaluate the impact of irradiation of benign skull base tumours located near the hippocampi on autobiographical memory. From 2016 to 2019, patients with cavernous sinus meningioma or pituitary adenoma treated with normofractionated irradiation were included. Patients underwent full neuropsychological assessment at baseline, 1 year and 2 years post-treatment. Neuropsychological tests were converted to Z-Score for comparability. Twelve of the 19 patients included had a complete neuropsychological evaluation at 2 years and were analysed. On the "TEMPau" test, no significant difference in autobiographical memory was found at 2 years, regardless of the period of autobiographical memory. The mean hippocampal dose had no impact on the variation in autobiographical memory. There was no significant cognitive impairment in the other domains assessed, such as attention, anterograde memory, working memory and executive functions. Autobiographical memory was independent of these other cognitive domains, which justifies its specific study. Radiotherapy to the skull base for a benign pathology does not lead to significant cognitive impairment. Longer follow-up would be needed to confirm these results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the phenomenological and narrative characteristics of young adults' self- and other-related memories within the context of significant relationships. We also examined whether participants' gender and/or gender concordance between participants and their siblings was associated with autobiographical memory characteristics. We collected data from 108 college students who had only one sibling. All participants provided narratives in response to three memory prompts (i.e., self-related, sibling-related, and family-related) and rated their memories along dimensions such as significance, emotional valence, clarity etc. The narratives were coded on thematic content, transformativeness, mentions of others, and event type dimensions. Results revealed differences between self-related memories and sibling- and family-related memories across several dimensions. However, sibling-related and family-related memories were mostly similar to each other. No statistically significant gender or gender concordance differences were observed. Further exploratory analysis showed that memory narratives describing extended events were more transformative than single event narratives. The findings enhance our understanding about the self-in-relation to others through relationship memories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is well documented that older adults, compared to younger adults, produce fewer episodic details and more semantic details when recalling autobiographical memories. However, group comparisons have provided limited insight into the trajectories of detail generation across the lifespan. Utilising an open source dataset [Clark, I. A., & Maguire, E. A. (2023). Release of cognitive and multimodal MRI data including real-world tasks and hippocampal subfield segmentations. Scientific Data, 10(1), 1–29. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-022-01899-x], we examined how episodic and semantic detail generation varied with age among 194 younger adults, ages 20-41. We tested whether age differences were mediated by hippocampal subfield volumes and MTL resting-state functional connectivity. Results indicated that semantic details increased with age, while episodic details remained stable. We observed age differences in hippocampal subfield volumes and MTL connectivity, but these measures did not mediate age effects on semantic detail. Based on these and prior findings [Matijevic, S., Andrews-Hanna, J. R., Wank, A. A., Ryan, L., & Grilli, M. D. (2022). Individual differences in the relationship between episodic detail generation and resting state functional connectivity vary with age. Neuropsychologia, 166, 108138. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2021.108138], we suggest a model of diverging episodic and semantic detail generation trajectories across the adult lifespan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Narrative identity – how individuals narrate their lived and remembered past – is usually assessed via independent rater coding, but new methods relying on self-report have been introduced. To test the assumption that different methods assess aspects of the same underlying construct, studies measuring similar components of narrative identity with different methods are needed. However, such studies are surprisingly rare. To begin to fill this gap, the present study compared the narrative variables, temporal coherence, causal coherence, and thematic coherence, measured via rater coding of participants' self-generated narratives of the remembered past and via subscales of the self-report measure Awareness of Narrative Identity Questionnaire (ANIQ). The results showed that the ANIQ subscales did not correlate significantly with their corresponding rater-coded dimension, and that the ANIQ subscales were generally unrelated to the other rater-coded dimensions. Furthermore, an exploratory factor analysis demonstrated that the ANIQ subscales loaded together on a factor that did not include any rater-coded variables. The findings suggest that the narrative variables share little empirical overlap when assessed via the ANIQ and rater coding of self-generated narratives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The default network is widely implicated as a common neural substrate for self-generated thought, such as remembering one's past (autobiographical memory) and imagining the thoughts and feelings of others (theory of mind). Findings that the default network comprises subnetworks of regions, some commonly and some distinctly involved across processes, suggest that one's own experiences inform their understanding of others. With the advent of precision functional MRI (fMRI) methods, however, it is unclear if this shared substrate is observed instead due to traditional group analysis methods. We investigated this possibility using a novel combination of methodological strategies. Twenty-three participants underwent multi-echo resting-state and task fMRI. We used their resting-state scans to conduct cortical parcellation sensitive to individual variation while preserving our ability to conduct group analysis. Using multivariate analyses, we assessed the functional activation and connectivity profiles of default network regions while participants engaged in autobiographical memory, theory of mind, or a sensorimotor control condition. Across the default network, we observed stronger activity associated with both autobiographical memory and theory of mind compared to the control condition. Nonetheless, we also observed that some regions showed preferential activity to either experimental condition, in line with past work. The connectivity results similarly indicated shared and distinct functional profiles. Our results support that autobiographical memory and theory of mind, two theoretically important and widely studied domains of social cognition, evoke common and distinct aspects of the default network even when ensuring high fidelity to individual-specific characteristics. NEW & NOTEWORTHY: We used cutting-edge precision functional MRI (fMRI) methods such as multi-echo fMRI acquisition and denoising, a robust experimental paradigm, and individualized cortical parcellation across 23 participants to provide evidence that remembering one's past experiences and imagining the thoughts and feelings of others share a common neural substrate. Evidence from activation and connectivity analyses indicate overlapping and distinct functional profiles of these widely studied episodic and social processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous research has shown that leaders' narcissistic rivalry is positively associated with abusive supervision. However, it remains unclear when and how leaders high in narcissistic rivalry show abusive supervision. Building on trait activation theory and the Narcissistic Admiration and Rivalry Concept (NARC), we assumed that leaders high in narcissistic rivalry particularly show abusive supervision in reaction to follower workplace deviance due to their tendency to devaluate others. We argued that leaders' injury initiation motives explain why leaders high in narcissistic rivalry react with abusive supervision when experiencing organization-directed or supervisor-directed deviance. However, this should not be the case for coworker-directed deviance, as leaders high in narcissistic rivalry are less likely to find such behavior violates their internal norms. We conducted two studies. In the first study, we provided participants with experimental vignettes of follower workplace deviance. In the second study, we used a mixed-methods approach and investigated leaders' autobiographical recollections of follower workplace deviance. We found a positive direct effect of leaders' narcissistic rivalry across both studies. Leaders high in narcissistic rivalry showed abusive supervision (intentions) in response to organization-directed deviance (Studies 1 and 2) or supervisor-directed deviance (Study 1), but not in response to coworker-directed deviance (Studies 1 and 2). Leaders' injury initiation motives could in part explain this effect. We discuss findings in light of the NARC and devaluation of others and derive implications for theory and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sharp increase in dementia and age-related memory impairments worldwide has made reminiscence-based interventions attractive. Past research is mixed with little focus on self-functioning. The aims of this study were (i) to develop and assess the implementation of a reminiscence-based intervention, Digital Life Story Books, grounded in evidence-based principles of autobiographical memory, and (ii) to evaluate its effectiveness in improving sense of self in older adults with memory difficulties. A remote reminiscence intervention, using multisensory Digital Life Story Books (DLSB), was developed. Using a short-term experimental, longitudinal design, 25 participants with memory difficulties were assigned to the DLSB condition (16 females; M = 73.96, SD = 8.8) and 23 to a Wait-List Control (16 females; M = 78.57, SD = 9.38). Informal caregivers (N = 34; M = 63.44, SD = 13.8) provided proxy-reports on the effects of the DLSB. The DLSB was successfully developed and positively evaluated by participants. In the DLSB condition, a strengthened sense of self, reflected directly in the memories selected for the DLSB was detected. No overall condition difference was detected pre- to post-therapy. The findings highlight the appeal of reminiscence activities but also the challenge of adequate measurement sensitivity to demonstrate effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Methods Results Conclusions Impaired B‐cell reconstitution after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo‐HCT) contributes to the pathogenesis of chronic graft‐versus‐host disease (cGVHD). Therefore, methods to consistently achieve effective B cell lymphogenesis are required. We assessed the long‐term effects of posttransplantation cyclophosphamide (PTCy) use on immune reconstitution in clinical settings, an emerging strategy to suppress allogeneic immunological inflammation early after allo‐HCT and prevent subsequent GVHD.We comprehensively analyzed peripheral immune cell subsets and measured serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) or cytokine levels in 39 patients who survived for >1 year after allo‐HCT.The absolute counts of B1 and IgM memory B cells were significantly lower in patients with severe cGVHD than in those without. The absolute count and percentage (among total CD19+ B cells) of switched memory B cells and serum IgG levels were significantly higher in patients transplanted with PTCy than in those transplanted with conventional GVHD prophylaxis. Interestingly, increased percentages of switched memory B cells and serum IgG levels were observed only in patients transplanted with PTCy and not in those transplanted with umbilical cord blood.PTCy administration can mediate favorable memory B‐cell reconstitution long after allo‐HCT and may therefore suppress cGVHD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Authenticity is positively associated with important psychological outcomes in the workplace, such as well-being and engagement, and is reliant on having a coherent sense of self. This coherent self is maintained by recalling autobiographical memories (AM). But the specific relationships between authenticity and memory functions are unclear. This study aims to first, identify differences in memory function and content in the recall of authentic and inauthentic moments and second, address how these AM functions are related to authenticity, engagement and well-being. Participants completed measures of authenticity, engagement and well-being before and after a memory recall task. For the recall task, they were randomly assigned to recall either an authentic, inauthentic, or control memory. Recall narratives were coded for memory functions (self-identity, social, directive) and for physical/social context features. Authentic moments, inauthentic moments and controls differed in terms of social and physical contexts. Authentic moments were most likely to involve being alone while inauthentic moments were most likely to happen at work. Authentic or inauthentic moments were both more likely than controls to involve work colleagues, with inauthentic moments also involving more distant acquaintances such as bosses or customers. In addition, recalling a memory, no matter what type, increased engagement and authentic self-awareness. While there was no difference between authentic or inauthentic moments in influencing these outcomes, individuals' pre-recall levels of engagement and authenticity influenced the memory functions used. This taxonomy of (in)authentic moment recall can guide future research in authenticity and memory function. In addition, these findings begin to address the interactive role that authenticity plays in memory recall and its influence on other psychological outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Many past and ongoing conflicts in the world are associated with memories. The role of emphatic memories is however often neglected in conflict solving. Therefore, this narrative review gives a short introduction to the phenomenon of emphatic memories and implications for counteracting dysfunctional effects of emphatic memories. Summary: Memory has two connotations. One is remembering and knowing (I can remember when I got married) and on the other is reminding and emphasizing memories (I remind my partner of our wedding day). Memories are less a report on the past but result of current emotions and motives. Emphatic memories serve for self-portrayal and distinction from others, self-exculpation, accusation of others, justification of claims. They are regularly reproachful, have an aggressive character, and are distorted and pseudologic. This is also true on a societal level, as memories are used for defining social groups, and by this for political purposes, in order to juxtapose one group against the other. If memories are revoked, they are regularly accompanied with the very emotions, which were associated with the past event. Corresponding behavior is motivated. Many people suffer from memories and associated emotions and dysfunctional behavior, as is well described in the context of post-traumatic stress disorders. Also, social groups can as a whole suffer from negative emotions because of memories, which may go back up to thousand years. To ensure that memories do not adversely affect individuals and social groups, they should best be forgotten, or at least rescripted, in a way that they are disentangled from negative emotions and motives. An important psychological process in this regard is wisdom and forgiveness, which must not be confused with understanding, justification, tolerating, or reconciliation. Wisdom and forgiveness allow persons to close the books, act self-determined, find freedom from external events, and end suffering because of the past. It is a rational and emotional act. Key Messages: Emphatic memories can cause that individuals and groups do not find peace and persistently provoke new conflicts. Internal and interactional peace can be found if memories are let alone and fade away. Forgiveness and wisdom describe avenues to let dysfunctional memories go. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The teaching and learning and autobiographical memory literatures both suggest that personal stories can serve a teaching and learning function. Objective: Study 1 explored students' perceptions about whether an instructor's personal stories to enhance learning were mediated by how much the stories were liked and created a positive learning environment. Study 2 explored whether the learner's cognitive processing style moderated the teaching and learning function of personal stories. Method: Study 1 was correlational and conducted as an end-of-quarter course survey. Study 2 manipulated whether a pre-recorded lecture included or not an instructor's personal stories. Results: Students perceived that the instructor's personal stories helped them to learn course material better via a more positive learning environment (Study 1). This teaching and learning function was not found in the experiment but cognitive style was a moderator (Study 2) Conclusion: Due to the mixed results, the boundaries for when instructor's personal stories will and will not serve a teaching and learning function needs further exploration. Teaching Implications: Instructors should share personal stories with students because students like them and it enhances the classroom environment. However, the efficacy of stories for learning needs further exploration and may depend on the learner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In two experiments, we systematically investigated the reasons why people retained certain autobiographical events in their memory, as well as the properties of those events and their predicted memorability. The first experiment used three methods (word-cued, free-recalled, and "memorable, interesting, and/or important") to retrieve event memories, and examined memories from three different time-frames: very recent (within past 7 days), recent (past 2 weeks and 6 months), and older events (at least one year). In addition, data were also collected for an important transitional event recently experienced by all participants ("starting university"). The results revealed that people had access to three types of event memories: memories for life transitions, memories for older distinctive events, and memories for recent mundane events. Participants reported remembering events that were distinctive, first-time experiences, emotionally impactful, or simply because they were recent. They also predicted that older events would be more resistant to forgetting than very recent and recent events. The second experiment examined participants' memorable and forgettable events, and found that memorable events tended to be older, while forgettable events were more likely to be recent. These findings suggested that many retrievable memorable autobiographical memories were neither important nor transitional in nature. The studies contribute to our understanding of people's metamnemonic knowledge about their autobiographical memories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In rich false memory studies, familial informants often provide information to support researchers in planting vivid memories of events that never occurred. The goal of the current study was to assess how effectively we can retract these false memories via debriefing – i.e., to what extent can we put participants back the way we found them? We aimed to establish (1) what proportion of participants would retain a false memory or false belief following debriefing, and (2) whether richer, more detailed memories would be more difficult to retract. Participants (N = 123) completed a false memory implantation protocol as part of a replication of the "Lost in the Mall" study (Loftus & Pickrell, Psychiatric Annals, 25, 720-725, 1995). By the end of the protocol, 14% of participants self-reported a memory for the fabricated event, and a further 52% believed it had happened. Participants were then fully debriefed, and memory and belief for the false event were assessed again. In a follow-up assessment 3 days post-debriefing, the false memory rate had dropped to 6% and false belief rates also fell precipitously to 7%. Moreover, virtually all persistent false memories were found to be nonbelieved memories, where participants no longer accepted that the fabricated event had occurred. Richer, more detailed memories were more resistant to correction, but were still mostly retracted. This study provides evidence that participants can be "dehoaxed", and even very convincing false memories can be retracted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The default mode network (DMN) is a complex network that plays a significant and active role during naturalistic stimulation. Previous studies that have used naturalistic stimuli, such as real-life stories or silent or sonorous films, have found that the information processing involved a complex hierarchical set of brain regions, including the DMN nodes. The DMN is not involved in low-level features and is only associated with high-level content-related incoming information. The human sexual experience involves a complex set of processes related to both external context and inner processes. Since the DMN plays an active role in the integration of naturalistic stimuli and aesthetic perception with beliefs, thoughts, and episodic autobiographical memories, we aimed at quantifying the involvement of the nodes of the DMN during visual sexual stimulation. After a systematic search in the principal electronic databases, we selected 83 fMRI studies, and an ALE meta-analysis was calculated. We performed conjunction analyses to assess differences in the DMN related to stimulus modalities, sex differences, and sexual orientation. The results show that sexual stimulation alters the topography of the DMN and highlights the DMN's active role in the integration of sexual stimuli with sexual schemas and beliefs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to analyze the accuracy of memory of pain and the variables that may influence it in children with acute, experimental, and chronic pain. We conducted a search in electronic databases from inception to February 11, 2022. Twelve observational studies and 3 randomized controlled studies were included in the study. The main outcome measure was the accuracy of the memory of the pain intensity (experienced/recalled). To compare the outcomes reported by the studies, we calculated the standardized mean difference (SMD) over time for the continuous variables. The overall meta-analysis showed a small effect size in favor of an overestimation of experienced pain intensity (SMD = 0.28). Subanalyzing per pain context, there was a small effect size in favor of overestimation in the clinical context (SMD = 0.33), but there was no evidence of any change in the accuracy of memory of pain in the experimental context (SMD = 0.07). The mean age of the participants and the proportion of girls significantly predicted the accuracy of the memory of pain. The period since the experienced pain measurement, the intensity of expected and recalled fear, trait anxiety, and anxiety sensitivity did not significantly predict the accuracy of the memory of pain. Children showed an overestimation in pain memory between the experienced and recalled intensity of acute pain, especially in a clinical context. Furthermore, only gender and age were predictors of the accuracy of pain memory. These results highlight the relevance of pain memory to medical practice and future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document summarizes a special issue in the Journal of Intelligence titled "Grounding Cognition in Perceptual Experience." The issue explores the relationship between perceptual experience and cognitive performance. The articles cover a wide range of topics, including the influence of perceptual experience on mental representations, language, judgments, reasoning, and memories. The authors emphasize the need to incorporate phenomenological measures in research and discuss the integration of phenomenology into mainstream theories. They also explore the application of perceptual experience in improving motor performance and studying ambiguous figures. Overall, the articles highlight the importance of considering perceptual experience in understanding various cognitive processes and offer insights into the interconnectedness of perception and cognition. [Extracted from the article]

Since Brown and Kulik (1977) coined the term 'Flashbulb memories' (FBMs), there are still heated debates about their nature. We thus considered it useful to take stock of almost 50 years of research by reviewing 57 test–retest studies on FBMs for public events. The review aimed to answer six research questions by examining the target events and populations investigated (RQ1); the methods used to assess differences among groups and the effect of time on memory (RQ2); the assessment of FBMs' contents (RQ3), consistency (RQ4), vividness and confidence (RQ5); the criteria used to draw studies' conclusions (RQ6). Results show a huge methodological heterogeneity which may have contributed to the different conclusions about the special status of FBMs. The in‐depth comparison of 9/11 studies suggests that results may differ depending on the methods used. Finally, the paper provides methodological suggestions for future FBMs studies and seeks to stimulate critical theoretical reflections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our aim in the current study was to examine how different diary methods might impact the results of involuntary memory studies. We compared three different commonly used diary methods, record all memories experienced per day, record up to two memories per day, or record only the first two per day. Results showed that the record‐all group had the most memories, and in all conditions, more memories were recorded during the first week compared to the second week. Additionally, results showed that the record any‐two group reported more perceptually cued memories compared to the other two conditions, and the record‐all group reported the most memory cued memories. The record‐all group reported being the most confident in their involuntary memories. The results may help explain some discrepancies in the literature, and they may assist future researchers by allowing them to tailor their methods according to their research questions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Visual system is crucial to autobiographical memory. Research tended to show that blind adults may compensate for the loss of visual information in retrieval of their autobiographical memories. Much less is known about how blind children's autobiographical memory develops in the absence of visual information. Using cue‐word methodology, 36 sighted and 33 blind early teenagers were asked to recall memories and subsequently rated phenomenological qualities of their memories. Retrieval latency, the number of prompts provided, episodic and non‐episodic details reported for each memory were coded. In terms of memory accessibility, the blind group recalled comparable number of memories with comparable latency to retrieve memories, but they needed more prompting. Blind participants recalled similar number of episodic details; however, they reported more extraneous details, decreasing specificity. Blind early teenagers reported higher auditory imagery, a propensity to remember events from the first‐person perspective, and a tendency to remember events as coherent stories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective(s): Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease that results in the gradual breakdown of brain tissue, causing the deterioration of intellectual function and ability. Crocin is a saffron carotenoid compound proven to have excellent neuroprotective and anti-inflammation properties, although it has some limitations such as low stability and bioavailability. Therefore, in the current research, we tried to improve these limitations by using nanotechnology and chitosan as the carrier. Our study examined the therapeutic effects of crocin nano-chitosan-coated compound and compared it with intact crocin in lower dosages than other studies in AD rat models. Materials and Methods: Encapsulating crocin into chitosan nanoparticles was done through a modified technique to improve its limitations. The AD rat model was induced by bilaterally injecting beta-amyloid (Aβ) peptide into the frontal lobe using a stereotaxic device. To evaluate memory, we conducted the Barnes maze test, and to evaluate anxiety, we used the elevated plus maze test. Also, histological tests were conducted to evaluate neuronal damage in each group. Results: Crocin nano-chitosan-coated administration significantly improved specific memory indicators compared to the Aβ and other treated groups. A significant decrease in anxiety indicators was detected compared to the Aβ and other treated groups. Finally, the results of hippocampus staining indicated a meaningful difference between the Aβ group and other treated groups, compared to the crocin nano-chitosan-coated group. Conclusion: Treatment with low dosages of crocin in the nano-coated form exhibited great efficacy in reducing AD’s adverse effects compared to the same dosage of intact crocin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent research suggests that the retrieval of autobiographical memories among cognitively healthy middle‐aged and older adults is sensitive to the Apolipoprotein E ε4 (APOE4) allele, a genetic marker that increases the risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia. However, whether the APOE4‐associated alteration in autobiographical memory retrieval encompasses rapid (i.e. direct retrieval) or iterative (i.e. generative retrieval) processes remains unclear. In the present study, 39 APOE4 carriers and 45 non‐carriers (ages 60–80) who scored within normal limits on neuropsychological testing were cued to generate specific autobiographical events. We examined group differences in direct and generative retrieval and correlated direct and generative retrieval rates with performance on neuropsychological tests. Direct retrieval rates were lower in the APOE4 carriers compared to non‐carriers. Episodic memory positively correlated with direct retrieval rates across the sample, though this relationship became non‐significant when factoring in age and sex. There were no significant findings related to successful generative retrieval rates and its efficiency. In summary, compared to non‐carriers, cognitively unimpaired middle‐aged to older adult APOE4 carriers demonstrated greater difficulty, rapidly reconstructing specific autobiographical events without the support of semantic memory, suggesting that early autobiographical memory retrieval processes demonstrate vulnerability to AD‐related risk factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wang and Conway (2006, Autobiographical memory, self, and culture. In L.-G. Nilsson, & N. Ohta (Eds.), Memory and society: Psychological perspectives (pp. 9–27). Psychology Press) posit that remembering takes place in a culturally modulated self-memory system in which working self-goals are shaped by society and, in turn, influence the encoding and construction of memories in a culturally canonical fashion. The current research examined the self-goal of competence, which manifests through self-enhancement versus self-improvement motivations, in influencing remembering in different cultural contexts. We conducted two cross-cultural studies to examine memories for personal successes and failures (Study 1) and autobiographical and vicarious experiences (Study 2) in connection with individuals' positive self-views. European Americans recalled a greater number of success than failure memories (Study 1) and US participants recalled a greater number of autobiographical than vicarious memories (Study 2), which was further associated with positive self-views at the individual level. In contrast, Asian (Study 1) and Chinese participants (Study 2) recalled even-handedly the different types of memories, and the memory retrieval was unrelated to individuals' self-views. We discuss the findings in light of the different manifestations of the competence goal in shaping memory in the culturally modulated self-memory system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article we present a review of research on the IAM Task, whereby memories are cued by self-images in the form of "I am ... " statements, such as I am a grandfather, I am a Bob Dylan fan, I am from Darlington, I am a Psychologist. Such cues are particularly successful at accessing memories associated with the formation of specific aspects of the self. We describe the conceptual and historical context for the development of our task and review findings from other researchers who have used the same basic design. We present aggregate data and examples from across several experiments, examining how these patterns change in psychological distress and dysfunction. We also discuss research on "I will be" statements and how these have been adopted to examine self-related future cognitions. We conclude that the working self operates to organise memory retrieval and make accessible episodic and semantic material for self-relevant periods across the lifespan. Moreover, accessibility of self-images can be modulated by retrieval of autobiographical memories, highlighting Conway's bidirectional relationship between memory and the self. We provide suggestions for future research and for the first time provide a standardised version of our IAM Task for use by researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

I evaluate the conception of direct retrieval as originally formulated in the Self-Memory System model (Conway & Pleydell-Pearce [2000]. The construction of autobiographical memories in the self-memory system. Psychological Review, 107(2), 261–288. ). In the hierarchical memory organisation proposed in the Self-Memory System model, direct retrieval is described as a bottom-up associative process. While its theoretical role within this model is clear, systematic empirical examination of direct retrieval, viewed as a natural and observable phenomenon, has been hampered by inconsistent operationalisations. Here, I suggest that direct retrieval should be treated as a theoretical concept, aiming at explaining the phenomenon of involuntary (spontaneously arising) autobiographical memories. I evaluate predictions derived from the concept of direct retrieval against findings on involuntary autobiographical memories obtained over the past 25 years. Most of these predictions are consistent with the evidence, notably, the enhanced episodic specificity and constructive nature of involuntary autobiographical memories. However, the theory also has critical limitations. It did not predict the frequent occurrence of involuntary recollections in daily life, exceeding the prevalence of voluntary memories. Additionally, it overlooked the early emergence of spontaneously arising event memories in ontogenesis and their presence in other species, such as great apes. Future advancements of the Self-Memory System model should integrate evolutionary perspectives to address these limitations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to Conway's view, Autobiographical memory (AM) construction is accompanied by control processes. These processes range from filtering out relevant memories according to the current context, to generating or elaborating appropriate retrieval cues. These processes can be conceptualised as metacognition, the ability to control and monitor cognitive processes. Experimentally, little has been carried out to support the idea that metacognition is involved in AM. To assess this, we designed a task, the Feeling of Retrieval. Participants had to predict whether cue words would facilitate AM access (i.e., fluent access cues) or not (i.e., limited access cues) in a limited time (either 1 (Exp. 2) or 2 (Exp. 1) s). Later, they retrieved memories in response to both types of cues. Results show that cues judged as fluent access led to better AM generation, as illustrated by AM retrieval latency and a subjective measure of the ease with which the AMs were retrieved. These rapid predictions may rely on epistemic feelings and / or other mnemonic cues such as a partial retrieval of information. This metacognitive access to the earliest stages of AM retrieval illustrates the ability to monitor AM processes as proposed by Conway (2005). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A plethora of studies have shown that people persistently remember public and personal events experienced during adolescence and early adulthood, particularly with a positive valence. In five studies, we investigate the reminiscence bump (RB) for positive and negative memories of public events (Studies 1 and 2), private events (Study 3), music-related events (Study 4), and cross-cultural memory differences (i.e., China and US) (Study 5). Participants retrieved either one positive or one negative memory, indicated their Age of Encoding, and provided secondary measures, i.e., memory vividness and rehearsal (Studies 1 and 3) and emotional intensity (Studies 2 and 4). About 10,000 memories were collected and positive memories appeared generally older than negative recollections, but the RB emerged for both positive and negative memories. Furthermore, the peak was earlier for positive memories of public events (<15 years old) than for negative memories (20–40 years), while no differences were found for private events or music-related experiences (15–25 years). Chinese had their RB later than US respondents. Finally, autobiographical recollections have moderate to low associations with secondary measures of phenomenological features of memory. These findings are consistent with the identity-formation theory, providing additional and important information on the development of the Self. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Experimental studies show that vividness and emotionality of aversive memories decrease after recall with eye movements. We aimed at replicating this finding. Relatedly, consistent with Conway's view that memory retrieval is constructive, we examined changes in the content of the memories. If eye movements render a memory less aversive, it may be avoided less, stimulating recall and increasing the opportunity to infer (contextual) details. Two experiments (N = 97 and N = 250) examined whether eye movements affect the number of central and peripheral memory details and characteristics. Female undergraduate students were randomly allocated to either eye movements with recall (EM) or recall only (RO). Before and after the experimental task, participants rated the vividness and emotionality, provided a detailed description and evaluated other memory characteristics. We replicated earlier findings that vividness (both experiments) and emotionality (experiment 2) were reduced more after EM compared to RO. However, conditions did not statistically significantly differ with respect to content details and other memory characteristics. Overall, findings support the idea that eye movements decrease the experience of the memory as vivid and emotional. Results are inconclusive regarding the idea that eye movements alter the number of recalled central and peripheral memory details. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Involuntary autobiographical memories (IAMs) have been typically studied with paper diaries, kept for a week or longer. However, such studies are unable to capture the true frequency of IAMs, nor the level of detail that would give new insights into the mechanisms of IAMs. To address this gap, a new audio-recording method was developed and tested on the first author who recorded 674 IAMs while driving a car on a 30–40-minute-long habitual route on 20 occasions. Results revealed very high frequency of IAMs (almost 34 per journey) that were reported more often in response to dynamic (one-off) than static cues. Moreover, a substantial number of memory chains and long-term priming of IAMs by previously encountered incidental stimuli were also recorded. Based on these results, a new theoretical model is proposed in which the occurrence of IAMs is determined by an interplay of factors at the time of the IAM, such as the type of ongoing activity and internal or external triggers, as well as different types of long-term priming. The results also have practical implications for studying mind-wandering and safety issues in driving and aircraft-flying, where periods of concentration are followed by monotony and less demanding tasks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]