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Memory monitoring failure in confabulation: Evidence from the semantic illusion paradigm

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 July 2010

IRENE P. KAN ,
KAREN F. LAROCQUE ,
GINETTE LAFLECHE ,
H. BRANCH COSLETT  and
MIEKE VERFAELLIE
IRENE P. KAN*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Villanova University, Villanova, Pennsylvania Memory Disorders Research Center, VA Boston Healthcare System and Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
KAREN F. LAROCQUE
Affiliation:
Memory Disorders Research Center, VA Boston Healthcare System and Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
GINETTE LAFLECHE
Affiliation:
Memory Disorders Research Center, VA Boston Healthcare System and Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
H. BRANCH COSLETT
Affiliation:
Department of Neurology, Hospital at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
MIEKE VERFAELLIE
Affiliation:
Memory Disorders Research Center, VA Boston Healthcare System and Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
*
*Correspondence and reprint requests to: Irene P. Kan, Department of Psychology, Villanova University, 800 Lancaster Avenue, Villanova, Pennsylvania 19085. E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

Several prominent models of confabulation characterize the syndrome as a failure in controlled aspects of memory retrieval, such as pre-retrieval cue specification and post-retrieval monitoring. These models have been generated primarily in the context of studies of autobiographical memory retrieval. Less research has focused on the existence and mechanisms of semantic confabulation. We examined whether confabulation extends to the semantic domain, and if so, whether it could be understood as a monitoring failure. We focus on post-retrieval monitoring by using a verification task that minimizes cue specification demands. We used the semantic illusion paradigm that elicits erroneous endorsement of misleading statements (e.g., “Two animals of each kind were brought onto the Ark by Moses before the great flood”) even in controls, despite their knowing the correct answer (e.g., Noah). Monitoring demands were manipulated by varying semantic overlap between target and foils, ranging from high semantic overlap to unrelated. We found that semantic overlap modulated the magnitude of semantic illusion in all groups. Compared to controls, both confabulators and non-confabulators had greater difficulty monitoring semantically related foils; however, elevated endorsement of unrelated foils was unique to confabulators. We interpret our findings in the context of a two-process model of post-retrieval monitoring. (JINS, 2010, 16, 1006–1017.)

Keywords

Anterior communicating artery aneurysmMemory disordersNeuropsychologyCognitionFrontal lobeRecognition
Type
Symposia
Information
Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society , Volume 16 , Issue 6 , November 2010 , pp. 1006 - 1017
Copyright
Copyright © The International Neuropsychological Society 2010

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