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Abstract
In brain-imaging and behavioral research, studies of autobiographical memory have higher ecological validity than controlled laboratory memory studies. However, they also have less controllability over the variables investigated. This article presents a novel technique—the expert archival paradigm—that increases controllability while maintaining ecological validity. Stimuli were created from games played by two international-level chess masters. The two players were asked to perform a memory task with stimuli generated from their own games and stimuli generated from other players’ games while they were scanned using fMRI. The study found a left lateralized pattern of brain activity that was very similar in both masters. The brain areas activated were the left temporo-parietal junction and left frontal areas. The expert archival paradigm has the advantage of not requiring an interview to assess the participants’ autobiographical memories, and affords the possibility of measuring their accuracy of remembering as well as their brain activity related to remote and recent memories. It can also be used in any field of expertise, including arts, sciences, and sports, in which archival data are available.
Notes
Elo (1978) developed the rating scale that is now used by the World Chess Federation (FIDE). The scale has a normal distribution and a standard deviation of 200 points. The best player of the world has around 2,800 points and the weakest 1,200. FIDE awards players with titles for their performances in specific tournaments. As an approximation, players above 2,300, 2,400, and 2,500 receive the titles of FIDE masters, international masters, and international grandmasters, respectively.