Memory and Consciousness—Usually in Tandem but Sometimes Apart

Madan, Christopher R.

Abstract

Episodic memory, the ability to remember specific events from one's personal past, has been the subject of research for several decades, with a particular emphasis on its relationship with consciousness. In the December 2022 issue of Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology , Budson, Richman, and Kensinger shed new light on this complex topic with a comprehensive exploration of consciousness. In this commentary, I present three propositions about the relationship between episodic memory and consciousness: (1) Episodic memory is usually associated with conscious retrieval; (2) it is possible to have consciousness without episodic memory; and (3) episodic memory can be accessed without conscious retrieval. Drawing from studies conducted with nonhuman animals, I provide evidence to support each of these propositions and discuss how they relate to the theory presented by Budson et al (2000). Although some of my propositions differ from their views, their work has been valuable in stimulating ongoing discussions to advance our understanding of memory.

Citation

Madan, C. R. (2023). Memory and Consciousness—Usually in Tandem but Sometimes Apart. Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology, 36(2), 128-131. https://doi.org/10.1097/WNN.0000000000000337

• Journal Article Type: Commentary
• Acceptance Date: Feb 15, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Mar 23, 2023
• Publication Date: 2023-06
• Deposit Date: May 6, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 24, 2024
• Journal: Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology
• Print ISSN: 1543-3633
• Electronic ISSN: 1537-0887
• Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 36
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 128-131
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/WNN.0000000000000337
• Keywords: Episodic memory; consciousness; nonhuman animals; mental time travel; hippocampal replay
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/19454259
• Publisher URL: https://journals.lww.com/cogbehavneurol/Fulltext/9900/Memory_and_Consciousness_Usually_in_Tandem_but.36.aspx