Episodic memory decline is associated with deficits in coherence of discourse

ABSTRACT

This study investigates coherence of discourse in the production of autobiographical narratives by individuals with aMCI. Autobiographical interviews were analyzed to determine whether reduced episodic recall was related to deficits in discourse coherence. A coherence rating scale was used to evaluate relatedness of the autobiographical details produced by participants to the topic of discourse. Interviews were transcribed, segmented into details, and divided into sets of episodic, semantic, or supplementary information, which were subsequently analysed with the coherence rating scale. We predicted that the known episodic deficits observed in aMCI could also affect the retrieval of coherent episodic information. The results revealed deficits in coherence could be found in both episodic and semantic information in the aMCI group. These results suggest that the cognitive deficits experienced by individuals with aMCI may go beyond their known difficulty in recalling episodic details, as they also affect the controlled retrieval of both episodic and semantic information.

KEYWORDS:

• AMCI
• language
• autobiographical memory
• discourse coherence
• dementia

Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (grant numbers 82744 and 130462).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Canadian Institutes of Health Research [grant numbers 130462, 82744].