My life story: self-defining memories in Korsakoff syndrome

Background:
Self-defining memories are emotionally intense memories that help people define who they are. While such memories play a central role in self-concept and emotional well-being, little is known about how they are affected in Korsakoff’s syndrome (KS).

Methods:
We invited patients with KS and healthy control participants to retrieve self-defining memories, which were then analysed for specificity (specific vs. general events), emotional valence (positive vs. negative) and integration of meaning (whether the memory was connected to a broader understanding of the self or life experience).

Results:
The analysis demonstrated no significant differences between patients with KS and controls in terms of specificity. However, compared with control participants, patients with KS produced more negative and non-integrated self-defining memories. Within-groups comparisons demonstrated more specific than general self-defining memories in patients with KS and control participants. These memories were mainly negative in patients with KS and positive in control participants, non-integrated in patients with KS but integrated in control participants.

Conclusions:
These findings demonstrate no difficulties in patients with KS to retrieve specific self-defining memories; however, these memories seem to be mainly related to negative events and enduring concerns or unresolved conflicts.