Autobiographical memory
Autobiographical memory refers to the collection of memories that shape an individual's life history and contribute to their sense of identity. It encompasses personal experiences and events, which are categorized into three main types: lifetime period memories, general event memories, and event-specific memories. Lifetime period memories pertain to significant phases of life, while general event memories arise from repeated experiences, forming a broader personal narrative. Event-specific memories focus on particular incidents and are often rich in detail, including sensory aspects, emotions, and personal connections.
Autobiographical memories can vary in detail and accuracy; for instance, biographical memories provide exact personal information, while reconstructive memories are influenced by cultural context and personal viewpoint. Individuals may also have hyperthymesia, a rare condition enabling them to recall their life events with exceptional clarity. The formation and recall of these memories are influenced by an individual’s sense of self and social factors, and their validity can sometimes be questioned due to the subjective nature of memory retelling. Understanding autobiographical memory is crucial for comprehending how individuals perceive their life stories and identity.
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Subject Terms
Autobiographical memory
Autobiographical memory is a collection of memories that form the basis of one’s life history and help to create one’s sense of identity. General memories, either of world events or events in which an individual directly participates, are stored and become part of the individual’s autobiographical memory only if they can be related to their involvement or interest in the event. The validity of an autobiographical memory is often questioned since the retelling of a memory involves its subconscious interpretation as it corresponds to an individual’s sense of self and any social or cultural restrictions influencing the individual.
Overview
Autobiographical memory is sometimes referred to as personal or episodic memory and is believed to be a collection of memories of episodes, people, and events as they directly relate to an individual’s life. Semantic autobiographical memories refer to memories of general facts as they relate to an individual’s relationship to the fact.
Autobiographical memories can be vivid and factual and include, for example, the time and place an event occurred as well as the names and actions of anyone included in the event. They are not always literal, however, since they have the potential for being recalled and related from a personal viewpoint and an individual’s unique sense of self.
There are generally three types of autobiographical memories. Lifetime period memories are those of a specific period in one’s life, such as high school or the duration of a specific job. The memories around the time period are usually sharp at the beginning and end of the timeframe, but the events and details in between are not as clear.
General event memories are those of general knowledge that come from experiencing and remembering repeated events, such as trips to the dentist. These memories often form an individual’s sense of personal history and are prone to producing memories of other similar events in the individual’s life.
Event-specific memories are those of a specific event that an individual was either directly involved in or that had an impact on the individual’s concept of self. Specific places, people, emotions, and sensory details associated with the event tend to be clearly recalled and with a high level of accuracy.
Autobiographical memory types can be further divided into several categories. Biographical memories are of exact, personal information such as an individual’s name and place of birth. Copy autobiographical memories have a large degree of visual detail, whereas reconstructive autobiographical memories involve interpretations of a memory that are based on one’s culture and sense of self. Reconstructive memories are often older memories and are retold from an observational point of view. Generic memories do not contain great detail and are vague and only contain general information. Specific memories are detailed and often recalled from a first-person point of view.
Hyperthymesia, or highly superior autobiographical memory (H-SAM), is very rare. Individuals with H-SAM are able to recall in near-perfect detail every event in their lives, including general events that hold personal significance for them.
Bibliography
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