Self-referential processing is distinct from semantic elaboration: evidence from long-term memory effects in a patient with amnesia and semantic impairments.

Journal article

We report data demonstrating that self-referential encoding facilitates memory performance in the absence of effects of semantic elaboration in a severely amnesic patient also suffering semantic problems. In Part 1, the patient, GA, was trained to associate items with the self or a familiar other during the encoding phase of a memory task (self-ownership decisions in Experiment 1 and self-evaluation decisions in Experiment 2). Tests of memory showed a consistent self-reference advantage, relative to a condition where the reference was another person in both experiments. The pattern of the self-reference advantage was similar to that in healthy controls. In Part 2 we demonstrate that GA showed minimal effects of semantic elaboration on memory for items he semantically classified, compared with items subject to physical size decisions; in contrast, healthy controls demonstrated enhanced memory performance after semantic relative to physical encoding. The results indicate that self-referential encoding, not semantic elaboration, improves memory in amnesia. Self-referential processing may provide a unique scaffold to help improve learning in amnesic cases.

Authors: Sui, J; Humphreys, G

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: Neuropsychologia
• Volume: 51
• Issue: 13
• Pages: 2663-2673
• Publication date: 2013-11-01
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2013.07.025
• EISSN: 1873-3514
• ISSN: 0028-3932
• Language: English
• Keywords: Self Concept; Brain; Memory Disorders; Recognition (Psychology); Neuropsychological Tests; Semantics; Analysis of Variance; Male; Humans; Amnesia; Judgment; Longitudinal Studies; Middle Aged