Repository logo
 

Forgetfulness of Things Past: The Impact of Suppression and Metacognitive Beliefs on the Intrusion of Autobiographical and Non-Autobiographical Memories

Simple item page
cam.depositDate2022-06-21
cam.restrictionthesis_access_open
cam.supervisorAnderson, Michael
dc.contributor.authorBarsuola, Giulia
dc.date.accessioned2022-07-20T16:36:58Z
dc.date.available2022-07-20T16:36:58Z
dc.date.submitted2021-09-27
dc.date.updated2022-06-21T09:07:23Z
dc.description.abstractThe flow of human thoughts is frequently plagued by unwanted cognitive activity, which has the unfortunate power to interfere with task performance, planning, social behaviour, and many other aspects of our lives. Importantly, repetitive negative thoughts and memories play a major role in psychopathology and represent a fundamental transdiagnostic process which deserves experimental and clinical attention. Inhibitory deficits on the one hand and metacognitive beliefs on the other are thought to play a key role in maintaining intrusive repetitive memories and thoughts in a variety of mental health difficulties (Major Depressive Disorder, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder). This thesis argues against Daniel Wegner’s Ironic Process Theory (Chapter 1) and examines the impact of thought suppression on intrusive Autobiographical Memories with two studies: an fMRI study (Study 1, Chapter 2), and a behavioural study (Study 2, Chapter 3). These two studies represent the first attempt to employ the Autobiographical Think/No-Think task (ATNT), a novel version of the Think/No-Think task solely based on autobiographical memories provided by each participant. In particular, Study 1 investigates the neural correlates of the ATNT task using functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging, and Study 2 explores the introduction of trial-by-trial intrusion ratings in the ATNT task and considers the affective consequences of thought suppression using Skin Conductance Response (SCR). This thesis also probes for the first time the relationship between metacognitive beliefs, intrusive memories, and thought control abilities using the standard Think/No-Think paradigm and manipulating participants’ metacognitive beliefs about the usefulness and the uncontrollability of repetitive intrusive thinking (Study 3, Chapter 4). After a general discussion (Chapter 5), this thesis reflects on the philosophical and ethical implications of forgetting, from a personal, psychological, and historical point of view (Chapter 6).
dc.description.sponsorshipCambridge Trust
dc.identifier.doi10.17863/CAM.86730
dc.identifier.urihttps://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/339322
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cambridge
dc.rightsAll Rights Reserved
dc.rights.urihttps://www.rioxx.net/licenses/all-rights-reserved/
dc.subjectautobiographical memories
dc.subjectmotivated forgetting
dc.subjectmetacognitive beliefs
dc.subjectthought suppression
dc.subjectrepetitive thinking
dc.titleForgetfulness of Things Past: The Impact of Suppression and Metacognitive Beliefs on the Intrusion of Autobiographical and Non-Autobiographical Memories
dc.typeThesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelDoctoral
dc.type.qualificationnameDoctor of Philosophy (PhD)
pubs.licence-display-nameApollo Repository Deposit Licence Agreement
pubs.licence-identifierapollo-deposit-licence-2-1
rioxxterms.licenseref.urihttps://www.rioxx.net/licenses/all-rights-reserved/
rioxxterms.typeThesis

Files

Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Redacted-Barsuola-2021-PhD.pdf
Size:
9.74 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Thesis - redacted
Licence
https://www.rioxx.net/licenses/all-rights-reserved/
Download

Collections

Theses - MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit