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Autobiographical Memory

Autobiographical Memory

Autobiographical memory is a unique type of episodic memory that involves recollecting personal life experiences. It allows individuals to remember significant events from their past, creating a narrative of their lives. One interesting phenomenon related to autobiographical memory is the reminiscence bump. This effect refers to the tendency of adults to recall more events from their second and third decades of life — typically between ages 10 to 30 — than from other periods. This period is...

Understanding Self-Concept

Understanding Self-Concept

The self-concept encompasses individuals' beliefs about themselves, structured through cognitive frameworks known as self-schemas. These schemas function as mental representations of specific traits or behaviors, influencing how self-relevant information is perceived, processed, and remembered. For example, individuals who are schematic for body weight are more likely to interpret routine experiences—such as dining out or shopping—through the lens of that trait. Conversely, those aschematic for...

Self-Schemas

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Explicit Memories

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Explicit memories, also known as declarative memories, are consciously remembered, recalled, and reported. Studying for a chemistry exam involves material that will become part of explicit memory. There are two types of explicit memory: episodic and semantic.
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Implicit Memories

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Implicit memories, also known as non-declarative memories, are long-term memories that function outside of conscious awareness. These memories influence behavior and skills without explicit knowledge. This type of memory is evident in tasks like playing tennis, snowboarding, and texting. Implicit memory has three subsystems: procedural memory, conditioning, and priming. This type of memory is essential in various activities, from everyday tasks to specialized skills.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 23, 2026

Brain Imaging Investigation of the Neural Correlates of Emotional Autobiographical Recollection

Brain Imaging Investigation of the Neural Correlates of Emotional Autobiographical Recollection

Published on: August 26, 2011

Autobiographical memory and amnesia: using conceptual knowledge to ground the self.

Clare J Rathbone¹, Chris J A Moulin, Martin A Conway

¹Institute of Psychological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK. c.j.rathbone@leeds.ac.uk

|April 22, 2009

Summary

Retrograde amnesia patient PJM maintained a continuous self despite losing episodic memories. Conceptual autobiographical knowledge supported her sense of self and identity.

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Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Cognitive Psychology
Memory Research

Background:

Investigating the relationship between self-identity, episodic memory, and autobiographical knowledge.
Understanding the impact of memory loss on the continuity of self.

Observation:

A case study of patient PJM with retrograde amnesia.
PJM experienced an 18-month period of episodic memory loss.

Findings:

PJM demonstrated a coherent and continuous sense of self.
Conceptual autobiographical knowledge was utilized in episodic tasks and to support identity.
Autobiographical knowledge compensated for inaccessible episodic memories.

Implications:

Autobiographical knowledge can sustain the self when episodic memories are unavailable.
Challenges and refines current neuropsychological models of self and memory.
Highlights the distinct yet interconnected roles of episodic memory and autobiographical knowledge in maintaining selfhood.