title: The role of working memory and verbal fluency in autobiographical memory in early Alzheimer's disease and matched controls.
abstract: Retrieval of autobiographical memories (AMs) is important for "sense of self". Previous research and theoretical accounts suggest that working memory (WM) and semantic and phonemic fluency abilities facilitate the hierarchical search for, and reliving of past, personal events in the mind's eye. However, there remains a lack of consensus as to the nature of the relationships between these cognitive functions and the truly episodic aspects of AM. The present study therefore aimed to explore the associations between these variables in a sample with a wide range of cognitive abilities. The study incorporated a between-groups component, and a correlational component with multiple regression. Participants with Alzheimer's disease (n=10) and matched healthy controls (n=10) were assessed on measures of semantic and episodic AM search and retrieval, auditory and spatial WM, and semantic and phonemic fluency. The AD group produced less episodic AM content compared to controls. Semantic fluency predicted episodic AM retrieval independent of age effects but there were no significant relationships between measures of phonemic fluency, WM and episodic AM. The results suggest that the ability to maintain hierarchical search of the semantic knowledge-base is important for truly episodic reliving, and interventions for people with AM impairment might therefore benefit from incorporating structured, individualised external memory-aids to facilitate AM search and retrieval.
authors.affiliation: Salomons Centre for Applied Psychology, Canterbury Christ Church University, UK; Neuroepidemiology and Ageing Research Unit, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, UK.
authors.forename: Maxwell J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Benjamin
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, UK.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cifelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, St. George's Healthcare NHS Trust, UK; Neuroscience Research Centre, St. George's, University of London, UK.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Garrard
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuropsychology, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, UCLH NHS Foundation Trust, UK.
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Caine
authors.affiliation: Salomons Centre for Applied Psychology, Canterbury Christ Church University, UK. Electronic address: fergal.jones@canterbury.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Fergal W
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000523:psychology*; D001307:Auditory Perception; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D056344:Executive Function; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D007807:Language Tests; D061212:Memory, Episodic; D008570:Memory, Short-Term; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012649:Self Concept; D013028:Space Perception; D013060:Speech
keywords: Alzheimer's disease; Autobiographical memory; Executive function; Verbal fluency; Working memory