autobiographical memory
refers to memory for specific experiences from our life, which can include both episodic and semantic concepts.
involves ‘mental time travel’
multidimensional in nature: spatial, emotional, and sensory components
visual experience and autobiographical memory formation
Greenberg and Rubin (2003) looked at the sensory component of autobiographical memory .
patients who cannot recognize objects also experience loss of autobiographical memory.
suggests that visual experience plays a role in forming and retrieving autobiographical memories
measuring the underlying neurology
Cabeza (2004) compared brain activation caused by autobiographical memory and laboratory memory . participants either viewed :
1. photos they took (own photos)
2. photos someone else took (lab photos)
- both types activated similar brain structures : medial temporal lobe, parietal cortex
- own photos activated more of the prefrontal cortex and the hippocampus
events that are best remembered
- significant events in a persons life
- highly emotional events
- transition points
reminiscence bump
participants over the age of 40 asked to recall events in their lives. memory high for recent events and for events that occurred between adolescents and early adulthood (10-30). enchanted memory for adolescents and young adulthood is referred to as the reminiscence bump
self image hypothesis
predicts that memory is enhanced for events that occur as a persons self image or life identity is being formed . people assume identities during adolescence and young adulthood
cognitive hypothesis
predicts that encoding is better during periods of rapid change that are followed by stability.
cultural life script hypothesis
suggests that each person has a personal life story and an understanding of culturally expected events. personal events are easier to recall when they fit the cultural life script.
memory and emotion
emotional events remembered more vividly and easily. emotional response may enhance consolidation.
weapons focus
tendency to narrow attentional focus and attend to threatening details
Rimmele et al (2011) memory and emotion
showed participants negative and neutral pictures in coloured frames.
tested them using a remember/know procedure.
also asked them to identify if frame color was the same as before
‘remember’ responses more likely for negative pictures, accuracy for frame color better for neutral pics
- suggests that emotion that accompanies emotional content does not necessarily predict recollection of detail
flashbulb memories
memories associated with circumstances surrounding shocking , highly important events. (ex. where someone was when they found out about 9/11 , not what actually happened in the event itself).
involve contextual content of an episodic nature.
highly emotional and vivid
Neisser and harsch and flashbulb memories
used repeated recall a day after challenger explosion, and again 2.5-3 yrs later.
initial description of where one was when they heard about it compared to reports of same collected at a later date.
- results suggest these memories can be inaccurate and lacking in detail, even if participants report they are confident and that memories seem vivid
narrative rehearsal hypothesis
suggests that repeated viewing/ hearing of event introduces errors into own memory.
