Neuroscience, Alzheimer's, & Autobiographical Memory

Neuroscience, Alzheimer's, & Autobiographical Memory

https://morebrainpoints.blogspot.com/2019/03/neuroscience-alzheimers.html

In a National Geographic article, science writer Anil Ananthaswamy believed that certain aspects of neuroscience discoveries have helped us learn more about ourselves and build up our autobiographical memory. This is the type of memory that consists of “episodes” in our personal lives based on both our experiences at specific times or places as well as our own general knowledge. In the article, Ananthaswamy began by connecting Alzheimer’s disease to the discovery of an individual’s sense of self. He stated that Alzheimer’s affects an individual’s ability to remember specific faces of friends or family and anything happening around them. In a sense, he claimed that the disease destroys an individual’s sense of self, which is a thought process gained through autobiographical memory, the narrative that we build upon throughout our whole lives.

Furthermore, he stated that new discoveries in neuroscience have emphasized how the brain and body are interconnected. In Melissa Hebscher’s research, “Neural correlates of autobiographical memory retrieval”, she stated how an individual’s autobiographical memory depends on interactions between brain regions in order to connect one’s internal sense with the world. Ananthaswamy stated that our sense of self relies on an organized set of neural processes inside so that we may perceive the world and solidify our memories we gain from experiences. In Hebscher’s research, she delved deeper into the structures involved; in particular, higher volumes of the hippocampus and precuneus were associated with spatial aspects of autobiographical memory. In episodic memory, events with spatial context are remembered more vividly than those without it, setting the stage for memory retrieval. She then showed how neural oscillations during autobiographical memory, using transcranial magnetic stimulation, provide evidence that the brain’s structures have a way of communicating.

Ananthaswamy concluded his journey of the sense of self in India, where he hoped to answer the question: “Who am I?”. He acknowledged that the neural processes that help make up our sense of identity and memory can be disrupted. The next step in neuroscience research is to determine what exactly is at the foundation of self-awareness.

"How Neuroscience is Helping Answer the Question 'Who am I?'"

https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/08/150826-science-brain-mind-alzheimers-neuroscience-self-ngbooktalk/

"Neural correlates of autobiographical memory retrieval"

By: Melissa Hebscher