Abstract
Conway (Conway, M.A., 1992. A structural model of autobiographical
memory. In: Conway, M.A., Spinnler, H., Wagenaar, W.A.
(Eds.), Theoretical Perspectives on Autobiological Memory. Kluwer
Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, The Netherlands, pp. 167–194)
proposed that two types of autobiographical memories (AMs) exist
within a hierarchical AM system: unique, specific events and
repeated, general memories. There is little research on whether
retrieval of these AMs relies on different neural substrates. To
investigate this issue, we used a multivariate image analysis
technique, spatiotemporal partial least squares (PLS), to identify
distributed patterns of activity most related to AM tasks that we
have found to be associated with a medial and left-lateralized
network. Using PLS, specific and general memories were more
strongly associated with different parts of this retrieval network.
Specific AM retrieval was associated more with activation of regions
involved in imagery in episodic memory, including the left
precuneus, left superior parietal lobule and right cuneus, whereas
general AM retrieval was associated with activation of the right
inferior temporal gyrus, right medial frontal cortex, and left
thalamus. These two patterns emerged at different lags after
stimulus onset, with the general AM pattern peaking between 2
and 6 s, and the specific AM pattern between 6 and 8 s. These lag
differences are consistent with Conway’s theory which posits that
general AMs are the preferred level of entry to the AM system. A
seed PLS analysis revealed that the regions functionally connected
to the hippocampus during retrieval did not differentiate specific
from general AM retrieval, which confirms our earlier univariate
analysis indicating that some aspects of the memory retrieval
network are shared by these memories.
Links and resources
Tags