Lecture 5: Memory and the Self

Todays Lecture –Common sense ideas about the Self –Controversy within Cognitive Psychology over the self Is it just an illusion? Does it exist as such? If so, what the hell is it? –A distinct cognitive apparatus. –Some Men that Time Forgot Amnesic patients Jimmie G, P.S., and C.W.

–I know that I exist, the question is, What is this I that I know? The I Reflex I decide, I do, I know, I like, I dislike, I will, I wont, Its my decision, I exist…

Two extremely personal questions… 1) What are you really? (a) A soul (inhabiting a body, and controlling a mind). (b) A product of the human brain as it reflects on its own activity. LEFT hand: (a) point left or (b) point right… 2) Is God? (a) Real. (b) A product of activity in the human brain. RIGHT hand: (a) point left or (b) point right…

A thoroughly modern brainwashed cognitive psychologist A godless soul Possibly going to heaven You are… Confused by yourself

Experience of and Belief in the Paranormal Sample of 569, 17-45year olds You are not alone…

Some Common Sense about the Self 1. Continuous over time, past, present and in the future 2. Singular 3. Responsible for controlling the mind and the body (will power) 4. Determines your individuality

So what is the point of having a self? According to common sense, you need a self in order to explain - Continuity Singularity Will power Individuality

Is anyone behind the wheel?

Consolidation Mechanisms Attentional Control EncodingStorageRetrieval Attentional Control Semantic Records Perceptual Records Binding Context Semantic Records Perceptual Records Binding Context Self

Cognitive Psychology is Soulless! Reason 1 concerns the brain –There may not be a single, controlling centre of the brain –Circuits can work independently of one another Reason 2 concerns function –No Homunculi allowed! they generate an infinite regress…

How To Include the Self in a Cognitive Model The self is a biological / physical process, carried out by the brain Functions that support memory, attention, etc, should be independent (segregated) from those involved in the self The neural basis for self-related functions may lie in the prefrontal cortex

Some Common Sense about the Self 1. Continuous over time, past, present and in the future 2. Singular 3. Responsible for controlling the mind and the body (will power) 4. Determines your individuality

Men that Time Forgot Amnesic Patients –Jimmie G. –P.S. –C.W. –M.L.

Amnesia PastFuture RetrogradeAnterograde

Oliver Sachs Patient Jimmie G. Korsakoffs amnesic –A chronic alcoholic –Severe retrograde amnesia and dense anterograde amnesia! –49 years old, but considered himself to be 19 and living in the late 1940s.

McCarthy and Hodges Patient P.S. 67 year old stroke victim –Severe retrograde amnesia and dense anterograde amnesia! A delusion more compelling than rational thought –P.S. lived as if he was in the early 1940s. –His delusion was resistant to contrary evidence and argument.

Memorys Influence on Continuity Continuity depends on access to the full range of memories for past experiences Our self-identity now may be constructed out of our most recent memories

Patient C.W. A middle aged victim of Herpes Simplex Encephalitis virus –Severe retrograde amnesia and dense anterograde amnesia! –Quote from C.W.s wife: He perceives the world as you or I do, but as soon as hes perceived it and looked away, its gone for him. A moment to moment consciousness

Next week, lecture 6 Martin Conways autobiographical memory model incorporating the working self Revision / Summary of key points from each lecture