Episodic memory and self-inisght: taking it personally

Abstract

The first aim of this dissertation was to gain more insight in episodic memory. The studies in this part of the dissertation indicate that the parietal lobe most likely is involved in episodic memory due to the self-related demands of episodic memory tasks. Furthermore, a more ecological valid episodic memory test has been developed, that can detect deficits in anchoring events either in time, or in proximity to other events. A second aim of this dissertation was to study self-insight in cognitive performances after stroke. First, insight into the use of neuropsychological tests was studied in a group of healthy participants. The results indicate that laypeople have an understanding of the neuropsychological tests and domains used by the experts they interact with. However, this understanding does not implicate that lay people can give accurate self-estimates of their performances on cognitive domains. In a subsequent study healthy participants were found to have a tendency to overestimate. Overestimations were also found in a patient study where patients admitted with an acute ischemic stroke were found to estimates that were comparable to those of healthy participants while they were much poorer in cognitive performance. Even more, these overestimates of the patient group were found in the stable phase as well, where patients again estimated themselves comparably to the control group. Based on these results it appears that the image one has of oneself is a stable construct based on long term memory. This self-image does not adapt to changes, even after a major life event such as the hospitalization and rehabilitation after an ischemic stroke. Self-estimates thus most likely reflect a previous state of being or the future goal that one wants to achieve.