부산대학교 도서관

Memory is situated in the center of human cognition. In this review, among various clinical aspects of memory two viewpoints were highlighted. One is the clinical characteristics of amnesic syndrome. Although persons with amnesic syndrome present with severe episodic memory impairment, they usually show well-preserved memories including implicit memory. Memory rehabilitation for persons with amnesic syndrome is clinically an important issue. Whatever methods or technologies would be used, it is crucial to keep in mind the principle of errorless learning. The other topic is related with memory and time (the past-present-future). From previous neuropsychological and/or functional neuro imaging studies, it is known that (episodic) future thinking is at least in part subserved by the medial prefrontal cortex including Brodmann's area 10 (BA10). On the other hand, individuals with depression suffer from rumination and self-blame, which may be related with functional abnormality in BA10. Using functional MRI technique, we have demonstrated that individuals with depression presented with difficulties in positive future thinking together with dysfunction in BA10. In addition, intervention with cognitive behavioral therapy improved their negative bias in future thinking and dysfunction in BA10 tended to be normalized.