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When I Relive A Positive Me: Vivid Autobiographical Memories Facilitate Autonoetic Brain Activation And Enhance Mood, Charlotte C. Van Schie, Chui-De Chiu, Serge A. R. B Rombouts, Willem J. Heiser, Bernet M. Elzinga

Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute

Autobiographical memory is vital for our well-being and therefore used in therapeutic interventions. However, not much is known about the (neural) processes by which reliving memories can have beneficial effects. This study investigates what brain activation patterns and memory characteristics facilitate the effectiveness of reliving positive autobiographical memories for mood and sense of self. Particularly, the role of vividness and autonoetic consciousness is studied. Participants (N= 47) with a wide range of trait self-esteem relived neutral and positive memories while their bold responses, experienced vividness of the memory, mood, and state self-esteem were recorded. More vivid memories related to better …