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Synaesthesia is linked to more vivid and detailed content of autobiographical memories and less fading of childhood memories
People with synaesthesia have enhanced memory on a wide range of laboratory tests of episodic memory, but very little is known about their real-world memory. This study used a standard measure of autobiographical remembering (the Autobiographical Memory Questionnaire, AMQ) considering four constructs (Recollection, Belief, Impact and Rehearsal) and two time periods (recent memories from adulthood, remote memories from childhood). Synaesthetes reported more Recollection (e.g. sensory detail) and Belief (e.g. confidence) which interacted with time, such that remote memories are reported to be comparatively better preserved in synaesthetes. This cannot be explained by synaesthetes recalling more salient episodes (the groups did not differ in Impact). It suggests instead that childhood memories have a special status in synaesthesia that reflects the different neurodevelopmental trajectory of this group. With regards to Rehearsal, controls tended to report that more recent memories tend to resurface (i.e. adulthood > childhood), but the synaesthetes showed the opposite dissociation (i.e. childhood > adulthood).
History
Publication status
- Published
File Version
- Accepted version
Journal
MemoryISSN
0965-8211Publisher
Taylor & FrancisExternal DOI
Issue
6Volume
26Page range
844-851Department affiliated with
- Psychology Publications
Full text available
- Yes
Peer reviewed?
- Yes
Legacy Posted Date
2017-12-08First Open Access (FOA) Date
2018-12-15First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date
2017-12-08Usage metrics
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