Contributions
Abstract: P570
Type: Poster
Abstract Category: Pathology and pathogenesis of MS - Neuropsychology
Background: Episodic autobiographical memory (EAM) allows us to retrieve specific, detailed, meaningful personal events. Emotional experiences are further critical characteristics of AM as emotional memories are generally better retrieved than neutral ones. In multiple sclerosis (MS), several elements suggest that EAM retrieval may be impaired or, at least, manifests differently.
Objective: In this study we investigated how emotion influences EAM retrieval in relapsing-remitting (RR) MS patients.
Methods: Using a fine-grained EAM assessment known as the TEMPau task, we examined the retrieval of strictly EAMs according to their valence (positive, negative, neutral) in 20 RR patients (mean age ± SD: 45± 8.7 y) and 20 matched healthy-controls (mean age ± SD: 46.2± 8.3 y). In addition, we assessed factual, temporal, spatial and phenomenological characteristics for each emotional valence in our two groups. Exploratory correlational analyses were further conducted between EAM characteristics scores and measures on mood scales (depression, anxiety and alexithymia).
Results: Autobiographical memory was impaired in MS (p< 0.01). More specifically, we demonstrated that patients retrieved fewer emotional negative EAMs than controls (p< 0.01). No differences were observed for positive ones (p=0.51). Focusing on negative valence, we also showed that patient"s negative EAMs were associated with less temporal (p< 0.001) and phenomenological (p< 0.001) characteristics compared to healthy subjects. Correlational analyses did not provided any significant results suggesting that mood alone cannot explain entirely this profile of performances.
Discussion: These data provide evidence of distinct EAM retrieval profile in MS. Interestingly, we showed that difficulties to access phenomenological details possibly hampers retrieval of specific negative AM in patients, independently of any mood symptoms. In light with theories of coping, we propose that MS patients recalled negative events in a less specific way in order to prevent the emotional impact of painful memories and to deal more effectively with the disease.
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose
Abstract: P570
Type: Poster
Abstract Category: Pathology and pathogenesis of MS - Neuropsychology
Background: Episodic autobiographical memory (EAM) allows us to retrieve specific, detailed, meaningful personal events. Emotional experiences are further critical characteristics of AM as emotional memories are generally better retrieved than neutral ones. In multiple sclerosis (MS), several elements suggest that EAM retrieval may be impaired or, at least, manifests differently.
Objective: In this study we investigated how emotion influences EAM retrieval in relapsing-remitting (RR) MS patients.
Methods: Using a fine-grained EAM assessment known as the TEMPau task, we examined the retrieval of strictly EAMs according to their valence (positive, negative, neutral) in 20 RR patients (mean age ± SD: 45± 8.7 y) and 20 matched healthy-controls (mean age ± SD: 46.2± 8.3 y). In addition, we assessed factual, temporal, spatial and phenomenological characteristics for each emotional valence in our two groups. Exploratory correlational analyses were further conducted between EAM characteristics scores and measures on mood scales (depression, anxiety and alexithymia).
Results: Autobiographical memory was impaired in MS (p< 0.01). More specifically, we demonstrated that patients retrieved fewer emotional negative EAMs than controls (p< 0.01). No differences were observed for positive ones (p=0.51). Focusing on negative valence, we also showed that patient"s negative EAMs were associated with less temporal (p< 0.001) and phenomenological (p< 0.001) characteristics compared to healthy subjects. Correlational analyses did not provided any significant results suggesting that mood alone cannot explain entirely this profile of performances.
Discussion: These data provide evidence of distinct EAM retrieval profile in MS. Interestingly, we showed that difficulties to access phenomenological details possibly hampers retrieval of specific negative AM in patients, independently of any mood symptoms. In light with theories of coping, we propose that MS patients recalled negative events in a less specific way in order to prevent the emotional impact of painful memories and to deal more effectively with the disease.
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose