When Memory Sins Daniel L. Schacter Presented by Tonya Slager

Preview Cognitive neuroscience vs. social neuroscience Cognitive neuroscience vs. social neuroscience “Seven sins of memory” “Seven sins of memory” Research- examining errors and illusions of memory Research- examining errors and illusions of memory

Cognitive Neuroscience & Social Neuroscience Both seek to link levels of analysis- psychological and biological Both seek to link levels of analysis- psychological and biological Techniques used: Techniques used: Cognitive and behavioral analysisCognitive and behavioral analysis Studies of brain-damaged patientsStudies of brain-damaged patients Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)

Differences Cognitive neuroscience focus: Cognitive neuroscience focus: LanguageLanguage MemoryMemory Thought regardless of social contextsThought regardless of social contexts

Social neuroscience focus on the same areas as well as basic psychological processes Social neuroscience focus on the same areas as well as basic psychological processes Attempts to explain the psychological and neural basis of social and emotional behaviors in humans and animals Attempts to explain the psychological and neural basis of social and emotional behaviors in humans and animals New multi-level integrative analysis approach, rather than solely biological or social. New multi-level integrative analysis approach, rather than solely biological or social.

“Seven Sins of Memory” First 3: sins of omission First 3: sins of omission Next 3: memory is present, but wrong Next 3: memory is present, but wrong Final sin: unwanted memories Final sin: unwanted memories

1 st Sin Transcience Memories become decreasingly accessible over time Memories become decreasingly accessible over time Ex. No longer remember 3 rd grade teachers name at age 50 Ex. No longer remember 3 rd grade teachers name at age 50

2 nd Sin Absentmindedness Lapses of attention that result in forgetting to do things Lapses of attention that result in forgetting to do things Ex. Husband “forgets” to do the dishes, walk the dog, wash the car, buy milk, pick the kids up from school, or buy you a card on your anniversary Ex. Husband “forgets” to do the dishes, walk the dog, wash the car, buy milk, pick the kids up from school, or buy you a card on your anniversary

3 rd Sin Blocking Information that has not faded out of memory but is temporarily inaccessible Information that has not faded out of memory but is temporarily inaccessible Ex. That word on the tip of your tongue you just can not remember to save your life Ex. That word on the tip of your tongue you just can not remember to save your life

4 th Sin Misattribution Remember that something happened to us and attribute the memory to an incorrect source Remember that something happened to us and attribute the memory to an incorrect source Ex. Remember that Joe broke up with you in a post-it note but it was really Bob Ex. Remember that Joe broke up with you in a post-it note but it was really Bob

5 th Sin Suggestibility Implanted memories that are produced by leading questions or suggestions Implanted memories that are produced by leading questions or suggestions Ex. “Didn’t Joe break up with you with a post-it note?” Ex. “Didn’t Joe break up with you with a post-it note?” Rare cases people will recall traumatic events that never happened to them Rare cases people will recall traumatic events that never happened to them

6 th Sin Bias Current knowledge and beliefs can skew our memories Current knowledge and beliefs can skew our memories “I DID NOT vote Bush for President!” “I DID NOT vote Bush for President!”

7 th Sin Persistence Unwanted memories of difficult or traumatic experiences that can not be forgotten Unwanted memories of difficult or traumatic experiences that can not be forgotten In extreme cases it changes the perception of their world- i.e. war veterans In extreme cases it changes the perception of their world- i.e. war veterans

Amnesic Syndrome Inability to retain new memories that can later be recollected Inability to retain new memories that can later be recollected Results from damage to the inner or medial aspects of the temporal lobes Results from damage to the inner or medial aspects of the temporal lobes hippocampushippocampus

Research on Amnesic Patients Lower levels of false recognition to critical attractive words then healthy participants Lower levels of false recognition to critical attractive words then healthy participants Lower levels of false recognition to attractive items that are related to previously studied shapes and objects compared to healthy participants Lower levels of false recognition to attractive items that are related to previously studied shapes and objects compared to healthy participants Again: damage to the medial temporal lobe Again: damage to the medial temporal lobe

Implications Regions within the medial temporal lobe, including the hippocampus, are involved in storing and retrieving associative information that attribute to false recognition of critical lures or attractive words/objects Regions within the medial temporal lobe, including the hippocampus, are involved in storing and retrieving associative information that attribute to false recognition of critical lures or attractive words/objects

Research on Transcience Previously focused on amnesic patients and those with medial temporal lobe damage Previously focused on amnesic patients and those with medial temporal lobe damage Recently fMRI’s and healthy volunteers Recently fMRI’s and healthy volunteers Focus: initial encoding of information into memory Focus: initial encoding of information into memory

Results At the time of encoding, significant activation in the left medial temporal lobe and several left prefrontal regions At the time of encoding, significant activation in the left medial temporal lobe and several left prefrontal regions Level of activity during encoding determined ability or inability to retain information Level of activity during encoding determined ability or inability to retain information Transcience is more likely to occur when those areas are not strongly engaged Transcience is more likely to occur when those areas are not strongly engaged

Research on Misattribution Large focus placed on false recognition- mistakenly claim they have already previously experienced something Large focus placed on false recognition- mistakenly claim they have already previously experienced something Patient B.G.: Patient B.G.: Falsely recognized words, sounds, etc.Falsely recognized words, sounds, etc. Lesion to the right frontal lobeLesion to the right frontal lobe

Further Research FMR study examined memory for previously encountered words FMR study examined memory for previously encountered words Remember an item and its source Remember an item and its source Small differences in familiar items Small differences in familiar items Right frontal regions Right frontal regions

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