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Updated: Jul 15, 2026
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Brain Imaging Investigation of the Neural Correlates of Emotional Autobiographical Recollection
Published on: August 26, 2011
Overgeneral autobiographical memory and traumatic events: an evaluative review
Sally A Moore1, Lori A Zoellner
1Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. samoore@u.washington.edu
Psychological Bulletin
|May 2, 2007
Summary
Trauma exposure does not consistently impair autobiographical memory retrieval, a phenomenon known as overgenerality. Instead, psychopathology, particularly depression and posttraumatic stress, is more strongly linked to this memory retrieval deficit.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Overgenerality, a reduced ability to retrieve specific autobiographical memories, is theorized as a trauma response.
- This memory deficit may serve to protect individuals by attenuating painful emotions associated with traumatic experiences.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between trauma exposure and autobiographical memory overgenerality.
- To determine if trauma exposure is the primary mechanism driving overgenerality or if other factors are involved.
Main Methods:
- A systematic review of 24 studies was conducted.
- Studies assessed trauma exposure and autobiographical memory overgenerality in various clinical populations, including those with posttraumatic stress disorder, acute stress disorder, and depression.
Main Results:
- No consistent association was found between trauma exposure and overgenerality across the reviewed studies.
- Psychopathology, specifically depression and posttraumatic stress, showed a more consistent association with overgenerality.
Conclusions:
- Trauma exposure is unlikely to be the primary cause of autobiographical memory overgenerality.
- Psychological factors like depression and posttraumatic stress appear to be more significant contributors to overgenerality.
- Further research into alternative theories of overgenerality is needed to understand its role in psychopathology.
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