Memory for emotional information and alexithymia A systematic review

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Alexithymia is a deficit in the recognition, expression and regulation of emotions, which has the following features: difficulty in identifying or describing feelings, difficulty distinguishing between feelings and bodily sensations, stringent imaginal processes, and externally oriented cognitive style. This personality trait is associated with many psychiatric and psychosomatic disorders, as well as with risky behaviors. Objective: To investigate whether this trait is also associated with reduced memory for emotional information. Methods: A review of articles investigating the possible damage caused by alexithymia to implicit and explicit memory for emotional information was conducted. Results: Although the studies concerning implicit memory presented divergent results, most studies on explicit memory suggested a deficit for emotional information retention in high-alexithymia individuals. Conclusion: The reviewed data support the notion that the typical increase in episodic memory for emotional information is reduced in high-alexithymia individuals.

For whom, and for what, is experience sampling more accurate than retrospective report?

“…It may be the case, therefore, that alexithymia relates to the extent to which individuals process their ongoing internal experiences, both affective and non-affective, and can remember them later. Indeed, many studies suggest that individuals high in this trait have a general deficit in explicit memory for emotional information (Luminet et al, 2006;Meltzer & Nielson, 2010;Suslow, Kersting, & Arolt, 2003;Vermeulen & Luminet, 2009; for a review of this literature, see Apgáua & Jaeger, 2019). Therefore, it is possible that alexithymia may relate to the extent to which ESM improves upon retrospective self-report.…”

Alexithymia, aggressive behavior and depression among Lebanese adolescents: A cross-sectional study

“…Then it evolved to be described as a personality trait that reflect a lack in emotion regulation and cognitive processing [6]. The etiology of alexithymia is related to the reduction of gray matter in the different cortices like: anterior cingulate cortex, anterior insula, orbitofrontal cortex, medial temporal gyrus and superior temporal sulcus [7,8]. The anterior cingulate cortex has an important role in the analysis and recognition of the subject's perception of emotions [8,9].…”

“…The etiology of alexithymia is related to the reduction of gray matter in the different cortices like: anterior cingulate cortex, anterior insula, orbitofrontal cortex, medial temporal gyrus and superior temporal sulcus [ 7 , 8 ]. The anterior cingulate cortex has an important role in the analysis and recognition of the subject's perception of emotions [ 8 , 9 ]. Furthermore, research has verified the link between alexithymia and the deficiency between the two hemispheres as well as the reduction of the activation of the amygdala; the latter occurs due to emotions triggered by visual stimulations and causes an absence of response of the regions associated with the visual encoding of facial expressions [ 8 , 10 , 11 ].…”

“…The anterior cingulate cortex has an important role in the analysis and recognition of the subject's perception of emotions [ 8 , 9 ]. Furthermore, research has verified the link between alexithymia and the deficiency between the two hemispheres as well as the reduction of the activation of the amygdala; the latter occurs due to emotions triggered by visual stimulations and causes an absence of response of the regions associated with the visual encoding of facial expressions [ 8 , 10 , 11 ]. Consequently deficient development of neural structure can lead to unhealthy behaviors leading to alexithymia as well as other psychosomatic disorders in adolescents [ 12 ].…”

The impact of the narrative mindset on effectivity in social problem solving

“…Parasuicide patients tend to retrieve overgeneral autobiographical memories (i.e., with lesser specific emotional content), which relates to problemsolving deficits [79, see also : 80]. High alexithymia (inability to verbalize emotions) correlates with deficits in both episodic memory [81] and mentalizing skills, such as perspective-taking mental imagery, fantasizing, and narrative transportation [82][83][84].…”