Memory Loss May Not Mean Loss of Sensitivity to Others
November 29th, 2007 Posted by: Dr. Cox
Contrary to current thinking, people that have lost their personal memories due to a brain injury may still be able to understand the feelings and intentions of others. It is commonly believed that such understanding is based on our own memories. Itâs known as the âTheory of Mindâ and it is thought to be the basis of our ability to socialize.
But a new study challenges that thinking. It indicates that severe loss of what is called âautobiographical episodic memoryâ does not necessarily alter someoneâs capacity to assess the mental state of others.
These findings represent a message of âhopeâ says Dr. Shayna Rosenbaum, a cognitive neurophysiologist at Baycrestsâs Rotman Research Institute in Toronto and assistant professor of psychology at York University. Rosenblum was the lead investigator of the study. âThe person can still be in tune with othersâ feelings and intentions which can help sustain social relationships, especially with loved ones. Itâs encouraging to know that this ability may be more resilient and preserved in us than first thought.â
Rosenblum worked with senior scientists at Rotman including memory pioneer Dr. Endel Tulving, frontal lobe expert, Dr. Donald Struss, and Dr. Brian Levine, an expert in autobiographical memory.
The study involved 2 people who suffered serious head injuries several years earlier as a result of motorcycle accidents. The injuries left them unable to remember episodes from their past or how they felt at those times. One of the individuals could not imagine himself at a future point in time â a rare condition Dr. Tulving calls âautonoetic awarenessâ or the ability of the human mind to mentally time travel.
The researchers put the 2 memory impaired individuals in a control group of 14 Men’s healthy people and put them through a series of tests sensitive to Theory of Mind and perspective taking. The 2 accident victims responded the same as the Men’s healthy individuals on all measures.
Says Dr. Tulving âOur findings suggest that episodic memory is not necessary to have normal insight into other peopleâs mind. We still do not know whether episodic memory might be necessary for the development of such insight in the first place.
This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, which offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To subscribe, click on: http://www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert/.
SOURCE: Science, Nov. 23, 2007 issue