title: Unrealistic representations of "the self": A cognitive neuroscience assessment of anosognosia for memory deficit.
abstract: Three cognitive components may play a crucial role in both memory awareness and in anosognosia for memory deficit (AMD): (1) a personal data base (PDB), i.e., a memory store that contains "semantic" representations about the self, (2) monitoring processes (MPs) and (3) an explicit evaluation system (EES), or comparator, that assesses and binds the representations stored in the PDB with information obtained from the environment. We compared both the behavior and the functional connectivity (as assessed by resting-state fMRI) of AMD patients with aware patients and healthy controls. We found that AMD is associated with an impoverished PDB, while MPs are necessary to successfully update the PDB. AMD was associated with reduced functional connectivity within both the default-mode network and in a network that includes the left lateral temporal cortex, the hippocampus and the insula. The reduced connectivity between the hippocampus and the insular cortex was correlated with AMD severity.
authors.affiliation: NeuroMi, Milan Center for Neuroscience, Italy; Psychology Department, University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy. Electronic address: manuela.berlingeri1@unimib.it.
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Berlingeri
authors.affiliation: Psychology Department, University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ravasio
authors.affiliation: Psychology Department, University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cranna
authors.affiliation: NeuroMi, Milan Center for Neuroscience, Italy; Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences/Psychology Section, University of Pavia, Italy; Center of Cognitive Neuropsychology, Niguarda Ca' Granda Hospital, Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Basilico
authors.affiliation: Neuroradiology Department, Niguarda Ca' Granda Hospital, Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sberna
authors.affiliation: NeuroMi, Milan Center for Neuroscience, Italy; Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences/Psychology Section, University of Pavia, Italy; Center of Cognitive Neuropsychology, Niguarda Ca' Granda Hospital, Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bottini
authors.affiliation: NeuroMi, Milan Center for Neuroscience, Italy; Psychology Department, University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy; fMRI Unit, I.R.C.C.S. Galeazzi, Orthopedic Institute, Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Eraldo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Paulesu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000377:Agnosia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000066494:Cognitive Neuroscience; D003704:Dementia / Q000503:physiopathology; D004532:Ego; D005260:Female; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D057567:Memory, Long-Term / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000503:physiopathology
keywords: Anosognosia for memory deficit; Default mode network; Default-self; Functional connectivity; Hippocampus; Insula; Monitoring processes; Personal Data Base; Self-evaluation scale