Retrieval process of overgeneral memory and the capture and executive control hypothesis: using Autobiographical Memory Test with thought sampling

ABSTRACT

The retrieval process for underlying overgeneral autobiographical memory remains unclear. In this study, we identified what leads to self-referential and categoric thoughts and examined the influence error-monitoring ability has on the reporting of categoric memories. We also examined whether cue self-relevance and/or executive control task performance are related to the number of specific memories reported. Using thought sampling, 94 college students completed the Autobiographical Memory Test, as well as a verbal fluency task and a depression scale. The results indicated that depressive symptoms and negative highly self-relevant cues were associated with self-referential/categoric thoughts during memory retrieval. Further, preceding self-referential/categoric thoughts and low error-monitoring ability predicted immediate after-reporting of categoric memories. Simultaneously, highly self-relevant cues and executive control task performance predicted the reporting of many specific memories. Subdividing the retrieval process and examining the process involved in depression are essential.

KEYWORDS:

• Autobiographical memory specificity
• overgeneral memory
• depression
• CaR-FA-X model
• thought sampling

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

ORCID

Noboru Matsumoto http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7513-1476

Notes

1 Eight graduate students who were unaware of the research purpose participated in the pilot study. They reported the understandability of the task and how easy it was to select alternatives (using a score from 0 to 10). They also mentioned whether they felt any other alternatives were required. The levels of understandability (mean = 7.38) and ease (mean = 6.00) reported were permissible. One participant proposed the category of “thoughts related to place;” however, this was not included because of its low frequency and risk of causing confusion with other categories.

2 We also examined whether correct responses in the verbal fluency task were associated with self-referential and categoric thoughts by adding this as a Level-2 independent variable. However, there were no significant results concerning the main effect of correct responses and related interactions.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science under Grant (number 14J00543, 17J04080).