The Role of Episodic & Semantic Memory in Remembering and Imagining

Question 1

Autobiographical Memories

Answer 1

● Autobiographical memory is a memory system consisting of episodes recalled from a person’s life, containing a mix of:
○ Episodic Memory: thoughts, emotions, times places
○ Semantic Memory: general event knowledge, personal facts
● Autobiographical memories link together past events to create a personal
history essentially forming a life narrative

Question 2

Function of Autobiographical Memories

Answer 2

● Supports sense of self and identity
○ Representations of personal characteristics
○ General knowledge of life events
○ Memories of specific happenings

Question 3

Reconstruction

Answer 3

Reconstruction: Combining stored information with other available information to form what is believed to be more coherent, complete or accurate memory.
For example:
● Recall a holiday
➡
might remember where it was, who was there, and what happened
○ These features are all recalled from different locations in the LTM
○ They are put together like a jigsaw puzzle to construct the memory of the holiday

Question 4

Constructing Imagined Futures

Answer 4

● People use both episodic and semantic memory to help them imagine and en sion possible future scenarios.
● This is called episodic future thinking
● Autobiographical memories and episodic future thinking occur in the same
regions of the brain.

Question 5

Types of Imagined Futures

Answer 5

● Abstract and non person future events
○ E.g: considering future envi ronmental issues
● Specific, but non-personal events
○ E.g: an upcoming public event
● Abstract but personal events
○ E.g: the occupation you will take up a er graduation
● Specific and personal
○ E.g: a dinner date with your partner next Sunday

Question 6

Alzheimer’s Disease

Answer 6

Alzheimer’s is a type of dementia:
↳ Widespread degeneration of brain neurons, causing memory loss, a decline
in cognitive and social skills, and personality changes.
● As brain cells die the brain shrinks.
● Hippocampus is first to be affected. Neurons are lost here and causes the
brain to shrink.
○ Short term memory loss is one of the first symptoms

Question 7

Diagnosing & Treating Alzheimer’s Disease

Answer 7

Alzheimer’s disease is incurable and there is no simple diagnostic test;
● CT or MRI scans can show: the structure of the brain and loss of brain mass
● PET scans can show: Blood flow, oxygen consumption or glucose use
● These can’t identify the disease with certainty a diagnoses can only be ➡
confirmed when a post-mortem is conducted
● Post mortem examinations can show microscopic lesions in brain tissue that characterise Alzheimer’s disease
○ Lesions: a damaged or abnormal area of the brain that may appear like a scar or wound

Question 8

What We Find in Alzheimer’s Patients

Answer 8

● Amyloid plaques; protein deposits that form along axon terminals and interfere with neuron communication, which typify Alzheimer’s Disease
● Patients also have Neurofibrillary tangles; a build up of proteins inside the neurons, this is associated with the death of cells.
● Lower levels of memory neurotransmitters, especially acetylcholine
● Brain atrophy damage and destruction of neurons, causing the brain tissue to shrink

Question 9

Symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease

Answer 9

● Memory loss
● Impaired attention
● Decline in social skills
● Confusion
● Disordered thinking ● Personality changes

Question 10

Antaphasia

Answer 10

Aphantasia refers to the inability to sualise imagery
● People with Aphantasia have no “mind’s eye”
➡
essentially, their imagination is blind
● If you asked someone with Aphantasia to imagine something, they could
describe an object, explain a concept, list some facts they know about it…but
would not be able to experience a mental image
● Scientists are not sure what causes Aphantasia, however it is suggested that
the sual cortex (involved in sual imagery) may be underactive

Question 11

Effects of Aphantasia

Answer 11

● Have trouble remembering everyday
● Struggle to relive autobiographical events
things
● Difficulty imagining future events
● Problems with factual memory
● Dream less
● Have trouble recognizing faces
● Have decreased imagery invol ng other senses like sound or touch

Question 12

Forms of Aphantasia

Answer 12

• Congenital: present from birth
• Acquired: present after brain injury or a significant psychological event such as depression or anxiety

Question 13

Cures

Answer 13

● There is no known cure for congenital Aphantasia
● However, some patients with acquired Aphantasia have reported regaining
imagery abilities a er undergoing therapy
● Aphantasia is not a disability