New learning and remote memory in the same and different domains of experience: Implications for normal memory and amnesia

This study investigated the correlation between new and remote memory abili ty in normal young subjects and evaluated whether using tests that tapped d ifferent domains of experience had any effect on the relationship between n ew and remote memory. Remote memory was assessed using a famous face test a nd new memory was evaluated using both novel faces and words. The main find ing was a significant correlation between New and Remote face familiarity s cores. A correlation was obtained when both tests tapped the same domain of memory, whereas when tests tapped different domains, there was no Remote-N ew correlation. Remote-New correlations may only exist between tests tappin g the same domain of memory. This has implications for the interpretation o f previous amnesic literature and for future investigations.