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Autobiographical memory and the self in a case of transient epileptic amnesia

Illman, N. A., Rathbone, C. J., Kemp, S. and Moulin, C. J. A. (2011) Autobiographical memory and the self in a case of transient epileptic amnesia. Epilepsy & Behaviour, 21 (1). pp. 36-41. ISSN 1525-5050

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To link to this item DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2011.02.022

Abstract/Summary

Transient epileptic amnesia (TEA) is characterized by deficits in autobiographical memory (AM). One of the functions of AM is to maintain the self, suggesting that the self may undergo changes as a result of memory loss in temporal lobe epilepsy. To examine this, we used a modification of a task used to assess the relationship between self and memory (the IAM task) in a single case, E.B. Despite complaints of AM loss, E.B. had no difficulty in producing a range of self-images (e.g., I am a husband) and collections of self-defining AMs in support of these statements. E.B. produced fewer episodic memories at times of self-formation, but this did not seem to impact on the maintenance of self. The results support recent work suggesting the self may be maintained in the absence of episodic memory. The application of tasks such as that used here will further elucidate AM impairment in temporal lobe epilepsy. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Item Type:Article
Refereed:Yes
Divisions:Life Sciences > School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences > Department of Psychology
Life Sciences > School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences > Social
Life Sciences > School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences > Language and Cognition
ID Code:21632
Uncontrolled Keywords:Transient epileptic amnesia; recollection; episodic memory; autobiographical memory Self Identity
Publisher:Elsevier

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