Theory of Autobiographical Memory

The Purpose of the Article

The purpose of the article was to provide a coherent theoretical model of autobiographical memory that serves as a framework that brings together all the diverse concepts and research about autobiographical memory. The area of autobiographical memory has not been succinctly addressed in the past. Scientists have been using different approaches and insights from subareas of psychology to account for the topic, but unfortunately, the different nature of their views have restricted the development of coherent discussions (Ackerman, Nocera & Bargh, 2010).

Increased Knowledge on Autobiographical Memory

However, the research highlighted in the article has increased my knowledge on how the different parts of the brain work together to establish autobiographical cues in an individual.

• Retrieving Autobiographical Memory



I learned that autobiographical memory could only be retrieved through a mental modulation of the present goals of a working self and the autobiographical memory base in the brain. There are processes in the brain that are specifically initiated to initiate commands that will later activate autobiographical information which will ultimately lead to the retrieval of specific memories.



• Reciprocal Association



I learned that although the knowledge base is subject to the current activities of the current individual, the association can be reciprocated such that the knowledge base will determine the present action of a person. Therefore, the relationship implies that a proper understanding of the mechanism involved in the retrieval of autobiographical instances can be used to understand the cognitive aspect of an individual further.

Mental Constructions and Autobiographical Memory

In their research, the authors wanted to prove that autobiographical memories are swift mental constructions transistors generated from the corresponding memory storage. They argued that mental constructions, which autobiographical memory is part of, are less responsive to hints and only serve as activators responsible for the initiation of remembrance (Conway & Pleydell-Pearce, 2000). Therefore, autobiographical memories do not constitute part of human awareness, and instead, they are just elements of the memory retrieval process. Also, the researchers proposed that memories initiated in consciousness and incorporated into the normal brain functioning are exclusively controlled by involuntary processes and are, therefore, excluded from being part of consciousness (Conway & Pleydell-Pearce, 2000). To ascertain their claim, the authors analyzed the concept of autobiographical memory by hierarchically discussing the structures with the aim of creating a model that best accounts for the cognitive process under discussion. Throughout their study, the researchers have been making detailed discussions that are backed up with reliable data from other scholars, and at the end, the model of autobiographical memory developed therein is brought out as a proposal of a Self-Memory System (SMS).

Core Concepts of Autobiographical Memory

To make the research wholly and thorough, the scientists first sought to identify the core concepts involved in the development of autobiographical memories. The first method they used is to discuss the autobiographical knowledge base to note the main areas affected. Three areas were thus identified to be part of the brain that stores information; lifetime periods, general events, and event-specific knowledge (ESK) (Conway & Pleydell-Pearce, 2000). They collected information regarding the procedure of recalling past events in one of their laboratories to illustrate the systemic procedure involved in autobiographical knowledge and memory. After establishing the source of autobiographical knowledge, the scientists then proceeded to evaluate the relationship that exists between the active brain and autobiographical memory. A critical study analysis done between the working memory and autobiographical memory provided the framework from which the scientists based their conclusion on, the self-memory system.

Relationship between Active Brain and Autobiographical Memory

The study found out that the active part of a person's brain, the current activities and desires, and missions, are directly related to the individual's autobiographical memories. A person develops current goals based on the autobiographical knowledge which mostly constrains the goals of a working self (Conway & Pleydell-Pearce, 2000). In other words, the authors found out that autobiographical knowledge "grounds" the thinking of a person. The normal activities directed by the brain will either cause generative retrieval or direct retrieval of autobiographical memories. The generative retrieval occurs when the individual intentionally jolts his autobiographical memory while the direct retrieval process is spontaneous and is instigated by an ongoing activity done by a person (Conway & Pleydell-Pearce, 2000).

Conclusion: Self-Memory System

The researchers concluded that the SMS modulates the development of autobiographical memories and their effect on the normal functioning of the brain. They based their interpretation on the fact that initiation of memory in consciousness requires that other forms of cognition be halted before retrieving the memory. This is the case for both generative and direct retrieval of memory. After finding out that the usual activities determine the foundation for the autobiographical knowledge base, the scientists concluded that the goal aspect of the active brain is essential in the remembering experience. In other words, the autobiographical memories of a person depend on the individual's current working goals. However, the fact that autobiographical history impacts the ability of the working brain made the researchers conclude that the desires of the working person are also determined by the autobiographical knowledge base (Conway & Pleydell-Pearce, 2000). Additionally, the authors stated that autobiographical remembering is controlled by numerous parts of the brain. The interpretation is based on the finding that autobiographical memory is broad and is initiated through an alternation of multiple activities in the mind.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the authors provided a logical and clear synthesis of the study. Their findings have been professionally interpreted to offer a detailed conclusion and proposal of how the autobiographical memory model should be framed so that it may address all the activities involved in the process.

References

Ackerman, J., Nocera, C., " Bargh, J. (2010). Incidental haptic sensations influence social judgments and decisions. Science, 328(5986), 1712-1715. http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.1189993

Conway, M., " Pleydell-Pearce, C. (2000). The construction of autobiographical memories in the self-memory system. Psychological Review, 107(2), 261-288. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037//0033-295x.107.2.261