Martin A. Conway\'s (2001) \"Sensory-Perceptual

¶ … Martin a. Conway's (2001) "Sensory-perceptual episodic memory and its context: autobiographical memory," the author proposes a new way of looking at episodic and autobiographical memory. The author argues that autobiographical memory provides a context for episodic memory. That is, Conway (2001) argues that autobiographical memory -- or the knowledge of one's self that one retains over long periods of time -- allows recollection to occur when it related to short episodic memories, and thus triggers them. Conway presents his study in terms of a literature review. He collects information from previous scholars in order to address the topic of episodic memory and autobiographical memory, then applies this information with his new theory. Conway is specifically interested in Autobiographical and episodic memory -- their functions, knowledge, access, phenomenology, and neurology. Based on this research, Conway concludes that "EMs [are] unusual mental representations in that they are conceived as small 'packets' of experience derived from conscious states that remain intimately connected to consciousness by instigating recollective experience during remembering" (Conway, 2001, pg. 1383). Conway (2001) argues that this allows them to set themselves apart from Autobiographical memory and other types of memory and "provide[s] a link from working memory to long-term memory" (pg. 1383).

2. The Nature of the Memory Distortion as Relates to Conway

Robinson-Riegler and Robinson-Riegler (2008) write that there are seven ways in which memory might be distorted: transience, absentmindedness, blocking, misattribution, Suggestibility, bias, and persistence. These distortions can result in either false memory or simply not remembering a memory accurately. Conway (2001) addresses memory distortions when he discusses the importance of autobiographical memory as an anchor for the self. He argues that it is certainly possible for people to have distorted memories -- such as schizophrenics memory distortions which often correspond to their fantastic and similarly distorted beliefs -- but that once this occurs "autobiographical knowledge, which man remain accessible, no longer constrains the goals of the working self and delusions and confabulations then occur" (pg. 1377).

3. The Controversy Associated With Recovered Repressed Memories and Conway

The importance of autobiographical memory, as confirmed by Conway (2001) has lead not only to research regarding memory distortions, but also to studies regarding recovered repressed memories. Robinson-Reigler and Robinson-Reigler (2008) state that a controversy exists as to whether or not memories of traumatic events that have been "recovered" can be completely trusted. Conway's (2001) argument relating episodic memory to autobiographical memory certainly relates. Conway (2001) argues that episodic memories are routinely forgotten, even as soon as 24 hours after they occur, and that the autobiographical memory is the context to which they are tethered in order to be remembered. Thus, Conway (2001) would most likely argue that the validity of recovered memories lies in their relation to the self or autobiographical memory.