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Updated: Jun 30, 2025
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Brain Imaging Investigation of the Neural Correlates of Emotional Autobiographical Recollection
Published on: August 26, 2011
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Stimulus-elicited involuntary autobiographical memories.
Latoya Wright-Wilson1, Tala Elsabbagh1, Ezequiel Morsella2
1Department of Psychology, San Francisco State University, United States of America.
Acta Psychologica
|March 16, 2024
Summary
This study adapted the reflexive imagery task (RIT) to explore involuntary autobiographical memories. Findings show external stimuli can indeed trigger these rich, personal memories, expanding our understanding of unconscious processing.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Memory Research
Background:
- The reflexive imagery task (RIT) investigates involuntary mental processes.
- Previous RIT studies successfully elicited perceptions and cognitions, but not autobiographical memories.
- Autobiographical memories possess complex, multi-sensory properties potentially resisting involuntary elicitation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the elicitation of involuntary autobiographical memories using a modified RIT.
- To determine if external stimuli influence the nature of these involuntary memories.
- To explore the boundary conditions of the RIT effect and unconscious processing.
Main Methods:
- Developed a variant of the RIT using line drawings of everyday objects as external stimuli.
- Instructed participants to suppress autobiographical memory recall.
- Conducted two experiments to assess stimulus-influenced involuntary memories.
Main Results:
- Involuntary autobiographical memories were associated with the presented stimuli in approximately 80% of trials.
- The nature of the involuntary memories showed influence from the stimulus characteristics.
- Demonstrated the capacity of external stimuli to elicit complex autobiographical memories.
Conclusions:
- External stimuli can successfully elicit involuntary autobiographical memories, contrary to prior assumptions.
- The RIT can be adapted to study the complex interplay between external cues and personal memory retrieval.
- Understanding these conditions clarifies the limits of unconscious processing and the role of conscious control in cognitive functions.
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