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Cited by 202Memory Processes and InfluencesIdentity, Memory, and TherapyCognitive Functions and Memory

Ageing and autobiographical memory for emotional and neutral events

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St. Jacques, Peggy L., Levine, Brian·2007·Memory
DOI 10.1080/09658210601119762PMC PMC1995658
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Abstract

We investigated age-related effects in recall of emotional and neutral autobiographical memories. Protocols were scored according to episodic and non-episodic detail categories using the Autobiographical Interview. Young adults recalled a greater number of episodic details compared to older adults, whereas older adults recalled more semantic details, replicating previous findings. Both young and older adults' emotional memories contained more overall detail than neutral ones, with the enhancement from emotion-specific to episodic details, but this did not alter the effect of age group on the pattern of episodic and semantic details. However, the age effect on episodic details was attenuated for neutral autobiographical memories. The findings suggest that age differences for emotional autobiographical recollection might reflect a more general pattern of age-related changes in memory, with impaired recall of episodic components and relative sparing of semantic aspects of autobiographical memory in older adults when compared to young adults.

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  • Episodic memory, relative to semantic memory, declines rapidly and dramatically with normal ageing.

    “Similarly, episodic memory, relative to semantic memory, declines rapidly and dramatically with normal ageing [10–15].”

    From Is episodic-like memory <i>like</i> episodic memory? (2024) · cites this paper as [14]

  • In humans, episodic memory declines with normal ageing and deteriorates earliest and most dramatically compared to other forms of memory.

    “In humans, episodic memory is well known to decline with normal ageing [10,11] and deteriorates the earliest and most dramaticlly compared to other forms of memory [12–15].”

    From Is episodic-like memory <i>like</i> episodic memory? (2024) · cites this paper as [14]

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Research works printed but not linked: 10

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Related

Authors
St. Jacques, P. L., & Levine, B.
Affiliations
Rotman Research Institute (CA)
ORCID
Levine, Brian
Venue
Memory
Publisher
Informa UK Limited
Published
2007-02
Volume
15
Issue
2
Pages
129-144
ISSN
  • 0965-8211 (ISSN-L)
  • 1464-0686
DOI
10.1080/09658210601119762
PMC
PMC1995658
OpenAlex
W1995926677
Cited by
202
References
69
Citations by year
2026: 9 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 15 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 20 · 2021: 16 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 13 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 13 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 11 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 12
FWCI
2.66
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Memory (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • Sussex Research Online (University of Sussex) (submittedVersion)
  • Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (HD42385-01, R01HD042385)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory Processes and Influences
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Identity, Memory, and Therapy
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Functions and Memory
Keywords
aging, autobiographical memory, emotional memory, episodic memory, semantic memory, episodic detail, age differences in memory, autobiographical interviews
MeSH terms
Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Emotions, Female, Humans, Male, Memory, Perception, Semantics

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