ON THE NEUROPSYCHOLOGY OF METAMEMORY - CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE STUDY OF AMNESIA AND DEMENTIA

Neurologic syndromes in which there is impaired deficit-awareness (ter med ''anosognosia'') provide useful observations for understanding the nature of metacognition and its neurobiologic correlates. Anosognosia can occur in various disorders, including stroke, head injury, partic ular amnesic syndromes, and various dementing illnesses (e.g., Alzheim er's disease). Research on anosognosia for memory impairment is import ant both for its clinical implications and for its contributions towar d understanding the neural correlates of, and processes by which, pers ons are aware of, monitor, and develop beliefs about their own memory functioning (i.e., metamemory). Following a brief introduction to anos ognosia, a review is provided of research on awareness of memory defic it in persons with neurologic amnesia or dementia syndromes. Particula r emphasis is placed upon the examination of how different experimenta l methods shed light on specific questions about metamemory impairment .