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Dissertation
Confabulation and self-monitoring in memory
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Medical College of Pennsylvania and Hahnemann University
May 1999
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/00007847
Abstract
While confabulation is often attributed to a breakdown in self-monitoring, little empirical support for this assertion has been gathered to date. The present study examined the role of self-monitoring and frontal lobe functioning in memory distortion among normal controls and brain-damaged confabulating subjects. Specifically, control subjects were compared to frontal lobe damaged confabulators on their memory for narrative text and their capacity to self-monitor, as reflected in confidence ratings of remembered story elements. Recall and recognition memory scores for three narratives and corresponding confidence ratings in remembered story elements were assessed at three points in time: immediate, 30-minute delay, and, among controls only, after 1 week delay. It was expected that frontal lobe confabulators would fail to adjust their confidence ratings in free recall memory distortions relative to accurate memories. Control subjects, on the other hand, were expected to lower their confidence ratings in free recall memory distortions relative to accurate memories, even after 1 week when their memory was constrained similar to brain-damaged. These predictions were supported. On the recognition task, subjects were provided with corrective feedback following immediate assessment. It was predicted that frontal lobe confabulators would continue to show more recognition memory errors in conjunction with inflated confidence ratings. This prediction received only partial support. While frontal lobe confabulators continued to show more recognition memory errors than controls at delayed assessment, both groups' recognition memory improved, presumably due to the incorporation of corrective feedback. As a result, both groups were highly confident in their recognition memory at delayed assessment. Further, tests of frontal lobe functioning were significant predictors of both memory accuracy level and confidence ratings. These findings suggest that frontal lobe confabulation is associated with a breakdown in self-monitoring. However, this conclusion is qualified by the apparent incorporation of corrective feedback corresponding to an appropriate increase in confidence among brain-damaged subjects. The results are discussed in terms of the usefulness of self-monitoring as an explanatory concept in memory as well as its possible clinical implications.
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Details
- Title
- Confabulation and self-monitoring in memory
- Creators
- Tasha Mott
- Contributors
- J. Michael Williams (Advisor) - Drexel University, Medical College of Pennsylvania and Hahnemann University (1993-1996, 1998-2002)
- Awarding Institution
- Medical College of Pennsylvania and Hahnemann University
- Degree Awarded
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
- Publisher
- Medical College of Pennsylvania and Hahnemann University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Number of pages
- vii, 106 pages
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Medical College of Pennsylvania and Hahnemann University (1993-1996, 1998-2002); Clinical and Health Psychology [Historical]; School of Health Professions (1998-2000)
- Other Identifier
- 991021888897304721