The Use of Definite References Signals Declarative Memory: Evidence From Patients With Hippocampal Amnesia

Melissa C Duff; Rupa Gupta; Julie A Hengst; Daniel Tranel; Neal J Cohen

doi:10.1177/0956797611404897

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The Use of Definite References Signals Declarative Memory: Evidence From Patients With Hippocampal Amnesia

Journal article

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The Use of Definite References Signals Declarative Memory: Evidence From Patients With Hippocampal Amnesia

Melissa C Duff, Rupa Gupta, Julie A Hengst, Daniel Tranel and Neal J Cohen

Psychological science, Vol.22(5), pp.666-673

05/2011

DOI: 10.1177/0956797611404897

PMCID: PMC3216116

PMID: 21474841

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Abstract

Language function in patients with impaired declarative memory presents a compelling opportunity to investigate the interdependence of memory and language in referential communication. We examined amnesic patients’ use of definite references during a referential communication task. Discursively, definite references can be used to mark a referent as situationally unique (e.g., “the game,” as in the case of a recently publicized game) or as shared information (e.g., “the game,” as in one discussed previously). We found that despite showing normal collaborative learning after repeated referring—as indexed by consistent and increasingly efficient descriptive labels for previously unfamiliar tangram figures—amnesic patients did not consistently use definite references in referring to those figures. The use of definite references seems to be critically dependent on declarative memory, and the engagement of such memory is signaled by language.

definite reference

language

memory

discourse analysis

Details

Title: Subtitle: The Use of Definite References Signals Declarative Memory: Evidence From Patients With Hippocampal Amnesia
Creators: Melissa C Duff - Beckman Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Rupa Gupta - Beckman Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Julie A Hengst - Beckman Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Daniel Tranel - Beckman Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Neal J Cohen - Beckman Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Psychological science, Vol.22(5), pp.666-673
DOI: 10.1177/0956797611404897
PMID: 21474841
PMCID: PMC3216116
NLM abbreviation: Psychol Sci
ISSN: 0956-7976
eISSN: 1467-9280
Grant note: R01 MH062500-01A1 || MH / National Institute of Mental Health : NIMH P50 NS019632-28 || NS / National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke : NINDS
Language: English
Date published: 05/2011
Academic Unit: Neurology; Psychological and Brain Sciences; Iowa Neuroscience Institute
Record Identifier: 9984002495202771

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