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[The assessment of episodic memory: theory and practice]
B Guillery1, P Piolino, B Desgranges
1INSERM U320, Services de Neurologie, CHU Côte de Nacre, Université de Caen, France.
Therapie
|December 1, 2000
Summary
New tests, the What-Where-When and TEMPau, assess episodic memory by measuring both performance and awareness. These tools offer a more comprehensive evaluation of episodic memory function.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Psychology
Context:
- Episodic memory involves recalling personal events in time and space, linked to self-awareness.
- Current episodic memory tests often focus solely on performance, neglecting crucial aspects of awareness.
Purpose:
- To introduce two novel tasks, the 'Quoi-Où-Quand' (What-Where-When) and 'TEMPau', for a more complete assessment of episodic memory.
- To investigate anterograde and retrograde amnesia by measuring both memory recall and subjective states of awareness.
Summary:
- The What-Where-When task assesses anterograde amnesia, while the TEMPau task evaluates retrograde amnesia.
- Both tasks incorporate memory performance scores and measures of awareness using a Remember/Know paradigm variation.
- These methods aim to capture the full scope of episodic memory, including autonoetic consciousness.
Impact:
- Provides more accurate tools for diagnosing and understanding memory disorders.
- Advances research by enabling the study of subjective experience alongside objective memory recall.
- Enhances the clinical evaluation of patients with memory impairments.