{"id":24557,"date":"2021-05-05T09:00:34","date_gmt":"2021-05-05T16:00:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.magneticmemorymethod.com\/?p=24557"},"modified":"2024-12-15T20:14:07","modified_gmt":"2024-12-16T04:14:07","slug":"autobiographical-memory","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.magneticmemorymethod.com\/autobiographical-memory\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is Autobiographical Memory: A Simple Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"powerpress_player\" id=\"powerpress_player_8955\"><!--[if lt IE 9]><script>document.createElement('audio');<\/script><![endif]-->\n<audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-24557-1\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"https:\/\/traffic.libsyn.com\/secure\/magneticmemorymethod\/What_Is_Autobiographical_Memory__A_Simple_Guide.mp3?_=1\" \/><a href=\"https:\/\/traffic.libsyn.com\/secure\/magneticmemorymethod\/What_Is_Autobiographical_Memory__A_Simple_Guide.mp3\">https:\/\/traffic.libsyn.com\/secure\/magneticmemorymethod\/What_Is_Autobiographical_Memory__A_Simple_Guide.mp3<\/a><\/audio><\/div><p class=\"powerpress_links powerpress_links_mp3\" style=\"margin-bottom: 1px !important;\">Podcast: <a href=\"https:\/\/traffic.libsyn.com\/secure\/magneticmemorymethod\/What_Is_Autobiographical_Memory__A_Simple_Guide.mp3\" class=\"powerpress_link_d\" title=\"Download\" rel=\"nofollow\" download=\"What_Is_Autobiographical_Memory__A_Simple_Guide.mp3\">Download<\/a><\/p><p class=\"powerpress_links powerpress_subscribe_links\">Subscribe: <a href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/anthony-metiviers-magnetic-memory-method-podcast\/id790315802?mt=2&amp;ls=1#episodeGuid=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.magneticmemorymethod.com%2F%3Fp%3D24557\" class=\"powerpress_link_subscribe powerpress_link_subscribe_itunes\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Subscribe on Apple Podcasts\" rel=\"nofollow\">Apple Podcasts<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.magneticmemorymethod.com\/feed\/podcast\/\" class=\"powerpress_link_subscribe powerpress_link_subscribe_rss\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Subscribe via RSS\" rel=\"nofollow\">RSS<\/a><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-24559\" src=\"https:\/\/e5hougg55fx.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/autobiographical-memory-feature-image-300x300.jpg?strip=all&lossy=1&quality=60&ssl=1\" alt=\"autobiographical memory feature image\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/e5hougg55fx.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/autobiographical-memory-feature-image-300x300.jpg?strip=all&amp;lossy=1&amp;quality=60&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/e5hougg55fx.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/autobiographical-memory-feature-image-150x150.jpg?strip=all&amp;lossy=1&amp;quality=60&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/e5hougg55fx.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/autobiographical-memory-feature-image-60x60.jpg?strip=all&amp;lossy=1&amp;quality=60&amp;ssl=1 60w, https:\/\/e5hougg55fx.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/autobiographical-memory-feature-image.jpg?strip=all&amp;lossy=1&amp;quality=60&amp;ssl=1 350w, https:\/\/e5hougg55fx.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/autobiographical-memory-feature-image.jpg?strip=all&amp;lossy=1&amp;quality=60&amp;w=210&amp;ssl=1 210w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>The term \u201cautobiographical memory\u201d sounds straightforward enough, doesn\u2019t it?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In reality, this aspect of human memory is quite complex.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And the way scientists write about it can be hard to penetrate.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I&#8217;ve been studying all kinds of memory for decades, so let me help you understand it with some examples and infographics.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To do that, let\u2019s take a step back and get a working definition of autobiographical memory and some examples that are easy to understand.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once you understand the different levels of autobiographical memory, you\u2019ll be able to understand yourself and others better.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And those psychology exams? Consider them aced when this unique and nuanced term comes up.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Let\u2019s get started.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><b>What Is Autobiographical Memory?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In a word, this type of memory is a \u201csystem.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Better than that, autobiographical memory is a system that draws upon other systems so that you can rapidly draw upon emotions and facts that help you make decisions.<a href=\"https:\/\/e5hougg55fx.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Autobiographical-Memory-Infographic.jpg?strip=all&lossy=1&quality=60&w=2560&ssl=1\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-39820\" src=\"https:\/\/e5hougg55fx.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Autobiographical-Memory-Infographic.jpg?strip=all&lossy=1&quality=60&ssl=1\" alt=\"Autobiographical memory infographic by Anthony Metivier\" width=\"483\" height=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/e5hougg55fx.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Autobiographical-Memory-Infographic.jpg?strip=all&amp;lossy=1&amp;quality=60&amp;ssl=1 483w, https:\/\/e5hougg55fx.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Autobiographical-Memory-Infographic-142x300.jpg?strip=all&amp;lossy=1&amp;quality=60&amp;ssl=1 142w, https:\/\/e5hougg55fx.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Autobiographical-Memory-Infographic.jpg?strip=all&amp;lossy=1&amp;quality=60&amp;w=193&amp;ssl=1 193w, https:\/\/e5hougg55fx.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Autobiographical-Memory-Infographic.jpg?strip=all&amp;lossy=1&amp;quality=60&amp;w=289&amp;ssl=1 289w, https:\/\/e5hougg55fx.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Autobiographical-Memory-Infographic.jpg?strip=all&amp;lossy=1&amp;quality=60&amp;w=386&amp;ssl=1 386w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 483px) 100vw, 483px\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p>What are these systems? And where are they found in the brain?<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Memories are in fact spread all over the brain. Or as memory expert <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.magneticmemorymethod.com\/memory-improvement-tips-from-dr-gary-small\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dr. Gary Small<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> describes it, memories are distributed into what you can think of as \u201cneighborhoods.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This means that when your brain serves up autobiographical memories about your life, it might be drawing upon:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.magneticmemorymethod.com\/episodic-memory\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Episodic memory<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.magneticmemorymethod.com\/semantic-memory\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Semantic memory<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.magneticmemorymethod.com\/iconic-memory\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Iconic memory<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.magneticmemorymethod.com\/sensory-memory-exercises\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sensory Memory<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you think about these different aspects of memory as cousins and uncles who live in different neighborhoods throughout your brain, then experiencing an autobiographical memory is like an event.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In other words, if you\u2019re trying to remember something about yourself, you will gather all those different kinds of memories into one \u201croom,\u201d the same way you gather your family members for Thanksgiving dinner.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-24560\" src=\"https:\/\/e5hougg55fx.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/family-members-having-thanks-giving-dinner-together.jpg?strip=all&lossy=1&quality=60&ssl=1\" alt=\"family members having thanks giving dinner together\" width=\"1280\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/e5hougg55fx.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/family-members-having-thanks-giving-dinner-together.jpg?strip=all&amp;lossy=1&amp;quality=60&amp;ssl=1 1280w, https:\/\/e5hougg55fx.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/family-members-having-thanks-giving-dinner-together-300x188.jpg?strip=all&amp;lossy=1&amp;quality=60&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/e5hougg55fx.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/family-members-having-thanks-giving-dinner-together-1024x640.jpg?strip=all&amp;lossy=1&amp;quality=60&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/e5hougg55fx.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/family-members-having-thanks-giving-dinner-together-768x480.jpg?strip=all&amp;lossy=1&amp;quality=60&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/e5hougg55fx.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/family-members-having-thanks-giving-dinner-together-758x474.jpg?strip=all&amp;lossy=1&amp;quality=60&amp;ssl=1 758w, https:\/\/e5hougg55fx.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/family-members-having-thanks-giving-dinner-together.jpg?strip=all&amp;lossy=1&amp;quality=60&amp;w=512&amp;ssl=1 512w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And because autobiographical memory is something you can deliberately call upon and experience consciously, it belongs to a larger level called <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Explicit_memory\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">explicit memory<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.magneticmemorymethod.com\/implicit-vs-explicit-memory\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">This is different than implicit memory<\/a>, which involves unconscious processes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Do Some People Have Superior Autobiographical Memory?<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yes, and the scientific term for superior autobiographical memory is <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Hyperthymesia\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">hyperthymesia<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This form of memory is sometimes confused with <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.magneticmemorymethod.com\/eidetic-memory\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">eidetic memory<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which is itself mistakenly associated with <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.magneticmemorymethod.com\/photographic-memory\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">photographic memory<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Superior autobiographical memory or hyperthymesia isn\u2019t understood well by scientists. In fact, some scientists think that there might be OCD or obsessive levels of self-reflective repetition involved. If this finding proves correct, then it would be <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.magneticmemorymethod.com\/elaborative-encoding-memory-exercises\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">elaborative encoding<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that explains the high levels of recall these people experience.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Jill_Price\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jill Price<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is one such notable case where people have noticed that obsessive levels of journaling have featured across her life. But whether or not repetitive journaling explains this level of recall or not, here\u2019s the easiest way to think about it:<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_24561\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-24561\" style=\"width: 1280px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-24561 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/e5hougg55fx.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/a-woman-is-writing-in-a-room.jpg?strip=all&lossy=1&quality=60&ssl=1\" alt=\"a woman is writing in a room\" width=\"1280\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/e5hougg55fx.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/a-woman-is-writing-in-a-room.jpg?strip=all&amp;lossy=1&amp;quality=60&amp;ssl=1 1280w, https:\/\/e5hougg55fx.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/a-woman-is-writing-in-a-room-300x188.jpg?strip=all&amp;lossy=1&amp;quality=60&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/e5hougg55fx.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/a-woman-is-writing-in-a-room-1024x640.jpg?strip=all&amp;lossy=1&amp;quality=60&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/e5hougg55fx.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/a-woman-is-writing-in-a-room-768x480.jpg?strip=all&amp;lossy=1&amp;quality=60&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/e5hougg55fx.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/a-woman-is-writing-in-a-room-758x474.jpg?strip=all&amp;lossy=1&amp;quality=60&amp;ssl=1 758w, https:\/\/e5hougg55fx.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/a-woman-is-writing-in-a-room.jpg?strip=all&amp;lossy=1&amp;quality=60&amp;w=512&amp;ssl=1 512w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-24561\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Researchers have noticed that some people with superior autobiographical memory tend to journal much more than the average person.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">People with hyperthymesia are simply more efficient at calling all those different <a href=\"https:\/\/www.magneticmemorymethod.com\/types-of-memory\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">types of memory<\/a> into the same \u201croom\u201d to help produce the experience of personal memories.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In fast, it is very telling that superior autobiographical memory is really the only kind of memory that has shown this feature. As the personal suffering seen in the Price case shows, there might be such a thing as too much <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.magneticmemorymethod.com\/reflective-thinking\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">reflective thinking<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><b>The 3 Levels of Autobiographical Memory<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are three levels and four \u201ctypes\u201d of autobiographical memory. It\u2019s useful to distinguish them because they involve different kinds of autobiographical information.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Type One: Lifetime Periods<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This literally means the memories you have to distinguish childhood from your adolescence, early adulthood, middle age and senior year.\u00a0 Jean Piaget described these periods in great detail in his <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Piaget%27s_theory_of_cognitive_development\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">theory of cognitive development<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/referenceworkentry\/10.1007%2F978-0-387-79061-9_252\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some scientists<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> include other categories in this type of autobiographical memory. For example, they would include how your memory divides:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Elementary school<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">High school<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">College<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Type Two: General Events<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">General events are much less fluid and don\u2019t have distinct borders like \u201cgrade seven,\u201d which has a beginning, middle and end.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_24562\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-24562\" style=\"width: 1280px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-24562 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/e5hougg55fx.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/number-7-on-a-green-background.jpg?strip=all&lossy=1&quality=60&ssl=1\" alt=\"number 7 on a green background\" width=\"1280\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/e5hougg55fx.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/number-7-on-a-green-background.jpg?strip=all&amp;lossy=1&amp;quality=60&amp;ssl=1 1280w, https:\/\/e5hougg55fx.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/number-7-on-a-green-background-300x188.jpg?strip=all&amp;lossy=1&amp;quality=60&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/e5hougg55fx.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/number-7-on-a-green-background-1024x640.jpg?strip=all&amp;lossy=1&amp;quality=60&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/e5hougg55fx.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/number-7-on-a-green-background-768x480.jpg?strip=all&amp;lossy=1&amp;quality=60&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/e5hougg55fx.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/number-7-on-a-green-background-758x474.jpg?strip=all&amp;lossy=1&amp;quality=60&amp;ssl=1 758w, https:\/\/e5hougg55fx.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/number-7-on-a-green-background.jpg?strip=all&amp;lossy=1&amp;quality=60&amp;w=512&amp;ssl=1 512w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-24562\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A time-based event like the fact that you attended grade seven at school is a general autobiographical memory.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This level of autobiographical memory refers to those kinds of memories when you basically remember a set of days, weeks or perhaps entire seasons gathered around a theme.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For example, when you tell someone a story about a fascination you had, you might say, \u201cI studied that topic for a good couple of weeks. I couldn\u2019t get enough.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But whereas lifetime periods have more specific beginnings and endings, you would not be able to say when exactly those weeks of a general event took place.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Type Three: Event Specific<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When experiencing this level of autobiographical memory, you can literally remember things that happened down to the second. This might be a memory of the first time you saw the person you married, or a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.magneticmemorymethod.com\/flashbulb-memory\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">flashbulb memory<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of a tragic event.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><b>The 4 Types of Autobiographical Memory<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There\u2019s some crossover between \u201ctypes\u201d and \u201clevels\u201d of memory, but it\u2019s still useful to separate the two so you have the fullest possible picture.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Level One: Personal Information<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Examples of autobiographical memory here include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your name and the names of your parents<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Where you were born<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Where you went to school<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure id=\"attachment_24563\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-24563\" style=\"width: 1280px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-24563 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/e5hougg55fx.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/a-red-building.jpg?strip=all&lossy=1&quality=60&ssl=1\" alt=\"a red building\" width=\"1280\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/e5hougg55fx.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/a-red-building.jpg?strip=all&amp;lossy=1&amp;quality=60&amp;ssl=1 1280w, https:\/\/e5hougg55fx.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/a-red-building-300x188.jpg?strip=all&amp;lossy=1&amp;quality=60&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/e5hougg55fx.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/a-red-building-1024x640.jpg?strip=all&amp;lossy=1&amp;quality=60&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/e5hougg55fx.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/a-red-building-768x480.jpg?strip=all&amp;lossy=1&amp;quality=60&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/e5hougg55fx.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/a-red-building-758x474.jpg?strip=all&amp;lossy=1&amp;quality=60&amp;ssl=1 758w, https:\/\/e5hougg55fx.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/a-red-building.jpg?strip=all&amp;lossy=1&amp;quality=60&amp;w=512&amp;ssl=1 512w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-24563\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Remembering where you went to school is an example of autobiographical memory.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To help you dig up more of this kind of memory you might not have experienced for a while, there&#8217;s a podcast on this page with <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.magneticmemorymethod.com\/3-memory-games-you-can-play-with-your-childhood\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3 Memory Games You Can Play With Your Childhood<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. You&#8217;ll find other memory improving games in that article too.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Level Two: Copies and Reconstructions<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Remember when I talked about superior autobiographical memory being poorly understood?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One reason why is that just because the person thinks they remember their lives exceptionally well, doesn\u2019t mean that they really do. Studies have shown that we all reconstruct our memories, and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pnas.org\/doi\/10.1073\/pnas.1314373110\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">autobiographical memories are often highly inaccurate<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Why?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Think back to Dr. Gary Small\u2019s neighborhood analogy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Each time a memory is recalled, it changes location in the brain. Anything that moves is transformed, so by the time you\u2019ve recalled the memory, it is now:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Located somewhere else in the brain<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chemically different than it used to be<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This doesn\u2019t mean that we\u2019re all liars. But it\u2019s just a fact that memories change over time and by recalling them, we are literally \u201creconstructing\u201d them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To make things more complicated, copies can be incredibly vivid and deliberately amplifying them can increase their accuracy.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The act of vivifying your memories so you can recall them with greater accuracy is greatly assisted by using a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.magneticmemorymethod.com\/memory-palace\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Memory Palace<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Level Three: Generic Vs. Specific<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This level is basically the same as the second and third type described above.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The difference here comes down to the conscious effort to \u201crelive\u201d the memories.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For example, we can often call up generic memories about our lives without thinking too much about them.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cOh yeah, I remember doing that,\u201d is easy to say about the time you went for ice cream on a date. But you don\u2019t actually have to relive it because going for ice cream is a generic event.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, if someone asks you to remember a <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">specific <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">time you went for ice cream when something special happened, you might have to press them for more specific details.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For example, they might need to give you the street name or general neighborhood to help you remember the exact ice cream excursion they have in mind.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sometimes researchers think of this level differently in terms of the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Remember_versus_know_judgements\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">remembering vs. knowing<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> dynamic, but the topic is far from decided upon.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Level Four: Perspective<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This level of autobiographical memory is especially interesting.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For example, you can remember going for ice cream from your first person point of view. This is called the \u201cfield\u201d perspective.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-24565\" src=\"https:\/\/e5hougg55fx.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/a-woman-is-eating-ice-cream.jpg?strip=all&lossy=1&quality=60&ssl=1\" alt=\"a woman is eating ice cream\" width=\"1280\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/e5hougg55fx.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/a-woman-is-eating-ice-cream.jpg?strip=all&amp;lossy=1&amp;quality=60&amp;ssl=1 1280w, https:\/\/e5hougg55fx.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/a-woman-is-eating-ice-cream-300x188.jpg?strip=all&amp;lossy=1&amp;quality=60&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/e5hougg55fx.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/a-woman-is-eating-ice-cream-1024x640.jpg?strip=all&amp;lossy=1&amp;quality=60&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/e5hougg55fx.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/a-woman-is-eating-ice-cream-768x480.jpg?strip=all&amp;lossy=1&amp;quality=60&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/e5hougg55fx.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/a-woman-is-eating-ice-cream-758x474.jpg?strip=all&amp;lossy=1&amp;quality=60&amp;ssl=1 758w, https:\/\/e5hougg55fx.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/a-woman-is-eating-ice-cream.jpg?strip=all&amp;lossy=1&amp;quality=60&amp;w=512&amp;ssl=1 512w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But you can also think of the same event from either a second or third person perspective. For example, you can imagine looking down at yourself having ice cream from the sky. Or you can see yourself through the eyes of the person you were with. This is called the \u201cobserver\u201d perspective.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><b>Autobiographical Memory Examples<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Memory expert David Berglas gave the ultimate autobiographical memory example in his book, <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A Question of Memory<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He calls it \u201cThe Kennedy Effect.\u201d During his era, people used to ask each other all the time: \u201cWhere were you when John F. Kennedy died?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These days, people ask \u201cWhere were you when 9\/11 happened?\u201d much more often, but the principle is the same.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you observe people when asking this question, you will see how most people will frame their explanation from the field level of autobiographical memory. If you want a fun exercise, pick a major historical event like this and try to see yourself while it is happening through the eyes of others.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-24566\" src=\"https:\/\/e5hougg55fx.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/a-wedding-picture.jpg?strip=all&lossy=1&quality=60&ssl=1\" alt=\"a wedding picture\" width=\"1280\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/e5hougg55fx.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/a-wedding-picture.jpg?strip=all&amp;lossy=1&amp;quality=60&amp;ssl=1 1280w, https:\/\/e5hougg55fx.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/a-wedding-picture-300x188.jpg?strip=all&amp;lossy=1&amp;quality=60&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/e5hougg55fx.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/a-wedding-picture-1024x640.jpg?strip=all&amp;lossy=1&amp;quality=60&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/e5hougg55fx.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/a-wedding-picture-768x480.jpg?strip=all&amp;lossy=1&amp;quality=60&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/e5hougg55fx.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/a-wedding-picture-758x474.jpg?strip=all&amp;lossy=1&amp;quality=60&amp;ssl=1 758w, https:\/\/e5hougg55fx.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/a-wedding-picture.jpg?strip=all&amp;lossy=1&amp;quality=60&amp;w=512&amp;ssl=1 512w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As you think about doing that, here are some other autobiographical memory examples:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your wedding day<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Getting your driver\u2019s license<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Taking a trip to a foreign country<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Having a child<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Graduating high school<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Receiving an award<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Retirement day<a href=\"https:\/\/e5hougg55fx.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Autobiographical-Examples-Infographic.jpg?strip=all&lossy=1&quality=60&w=2560&ssl=1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-39822\" src=\"https:\/\/e5hougg55fx.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Autobiographical-Examples-Infographic.jpg?strip=all&lossy=1&quality=60&ssl=1\" alt=\"Autobiographical memory examples infographic\" width=\"483\" height=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/e5hougg55fx.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Autobiographical-Examples-Infographic.jpg?strip=all&amp;lossy=1&amp;quality=60&amp;ssl=1 483w, https:\/\/e5hougg55fx.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Autobiographical-Examples-Infographic-142x300.jpg?strip=all&amp;lossy=1&amp;quality=60&amp;ssl=1 142w, https:\/\/e5hougg55fx.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Autobiographical-Examples-Infographic.jpg?strip=all&amp;lossy=1&amp;quality=60&amp;w=193&amp;ssl=1 193w, https:\/\/e5hougg55fx.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Autobiographical-Examples-Infographic.jpg?strip=all&amp;lossy=1&amp;quality=60&amp;w=289&amp;ssl=1 289w, https:\/\/e5hougg55fx.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Autobiographical-Examples-Infographic.jpg?strip=all&amp;lossy=1&amp;quality=60&amp;w=386&amp;ssl=1 386w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 483px) 100vw, 483px\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Of course, autobiographical memories aren\u2019t always positive. Here are some negative autobiographical memory examples some of us might experience:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A traffic accident<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Court dates<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Losing a loved one<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A home invasion<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">War<\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Struggling with a challenge<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The good news is that <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.apa.org\/topics\/disasters-response\/recovering\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">studies have shown<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that people tend to recover from such events quite readily.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><b>Best Books To Read On Autobiographical Memory<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I find this branch of memory so fascinating, that I thought you might like to know some of the books I\u2019ve read on the topic over the years.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">First up is <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Organization-Structure-Autobiographical-Memory\/dp\/0198784848\/scricast-20\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Organization and Structure of Autobiographical Memory<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> by John Mace. This book brings together over 30 years of empirical findings from multiple researchers. Its strongest point is how it shows the cultural influence on how autobiographical memories form. For example, some cultures remember more about their personal lives than others based on their political leanings.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-24567\" src=\"https:\/\/e5hougg55fx.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/people-with-different-culture-background.jpg?strip=all&lossy=1&quality=60&ssl=1\" alt=\"people with different culture background\" width=\"1280\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/e5hougg55fx.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/people-with-different-culture-background.jpg?strip=all&amp;lossy=1&amp;quality=60&amp;ssl=1 1280w, https:\/\/e5hougg55fx.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/people-with-different-culture-background-300x188.jpg?strip=all&amp;lossy=1&amp;quality=60&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/e5hougg55fx.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/people-with-different-culture-background-1024x640.jpg?strip=all&amp;lossy=1&amp;quality=60&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/e5hougg55fx.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/people-with-different-culture-background-768x480.jpg?strip=all&amp;lossy=1&amp;quality=60&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/e5hougg55fx.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/people-with-different-culture-background-758x474.jpg?strip=all&amp;lossy=1&amp;quality=60&amp;ssl=1 758w, https:\/\/e5hougg55fx.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/people-with-different-culture-background.jpg?strip=all&amp;lossy=1&amp;quality=60&amp;w=512&amp;ssl=1 512w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Autobiographical-Memory-Development-Theoretical-Methodological\/dp\/036707785X\/scricast-20\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Autobiographical Memory Development: Theoretical and Methodological Approaches<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a recent volume edited by Sami G\u00fclg\u00f6z and Basak Sahin-Acar. The strength of this book is how it has incorporated the relatively new field of trauma studies into the conversation.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Everyday-Memory-Svein-Magnussen-dp-1841695793\/dp\/1841695793\/scricast-20\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Everyday Memory<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, edited by Svein Magnussen and Tore Helstrup is a great book I want to mention specifically for one chapter. It\u2019s the chapter called \u201cMemory Sensitivity in Autobiographical Memory,\u201d co-authored by Cesare Cornoldi, Rossana De Beni and Tore Helstrup.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In this chapter, the authors point out how rewarding engaging with the memories of your life can be. As they suggest, it can readily become a self-reinforcing practice that serves you many times over in life:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cHaving experienced positive and rewarding effects of searching one\u2019s past, one is more likely to engage in new attempts. Reminiscing develops into a cognitive style that can be backed up by knowledge about different pathways to one\u2019s own <a href=\"https:\/\/www.magneticmemorymethod.com\/episodic-vs-semantic-memory\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">episodic memories<\/a>.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><b>Autobiographical Memory and Your Cognitive Style<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Personally, my cognitive style used to be horrible. In fact, I used to find thinking about my past a horrifying experience.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But as I shared in this TEDx Talk, I found that thinking addressing the experience of memories in a slightly different way \u201cdefanged\u201d them and made all memories much more positive in the ways that Cornoldi, De Beni and Helstrup suggest.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"Two Easily Remembered Questions That Silence Negative Thoughts | Anthony Metivier | TEDxDocklands\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/kvtYjdriSpM?feature=oembed&#038;enablejsapi=1&#038;origin=https:\/\/www.magneticmemorymethod.com\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As you\u2019ve already seen, this post is packed with resources to follow-up on. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And for more exercises that can improve how you access your personal history through memory, give these <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.magneticmemorymethod.com\/visualization-exercises\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">visualization exercises<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> a try next. The fourth exercise in particular brings your personal memories together with the places you used to live.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Speaking of exercises, if you&#8217;d like to strengthen all aspects of your memory, grab my free memory improvement course here:<a href=\"https:\/\/www.magneticmemorymethod.com\/free-memory-improvement-kit\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-28732\" src=\"https:\/\/e5hougg55fx.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Free-Memory-Improvement-Course-New.jpg?strip=all&lossy=1&quality=60&ssl=1\" alt=\"Free Memory Improvement Course\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/e5hougg55fx.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Free-Memory-Improvement-Course-New.jpg?strip=all&amp;lossy=1&amp;quality=60&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/e5hougg55fx.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Free-Memory-Improvement-Course-New-300x200.jpg?strip=all&amp;lossy=1&amp;quality=60&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/e5hougg55fx.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Free-Memory-Improvement-Course-New-1024x683.jpg?strip=all&amp;lossy=1&amp;quality=60&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/e5hougg55fx.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Free-Memory-Improvement-Course-New-768x512.jpg?strip=all&amp;lossy=1&amp;quality=60&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/e5hougg55fx.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Free-Memory-Improvement-Course-New-758x505.jpg?strip=all&amp;lossy=1&amp;quality=60&amp;ssl=1 758w, https:\/\/e5hougg55fx.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Free-Memory-Improvement-Course-New.jpg?strip=all&amp;lossy=1&amp;quality=60&amp;w=240&amp;ssl=1 240w, https:\/\/e5hougg55fx.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Free-Memory-Improvement-Course-New.jpg?strip=all&amp;lossy=1&amp;quality=60&amp;w=480&amp;ssl=1 480w, https:\/\/e5hougg55fx.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Free-Memory-Improvement-Course-New.jpg?strip=all&amp;lossy=1&amp;quality=60&amp;w=960&amp;ssl=1 960w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now that you know all about autobiographical memory, what do you say? Are you ready to explore the aspect of your memory more as a means of enhancing your experience of life?<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Autobiographical memory can be complex to understand. This article is packed with autobiographical memory examples to make learning easy.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":24559,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5945,7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-24557","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-memory-science","category-podcast"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.2 (Yoast SEO v26.2) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>What Is Autobiographical Memory: A Simple Guide<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Autobiographical memory can be complex to understand. 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