Survey of Autobiographical Memory

How well do you remember?

The Survey of Autobiographical Memory (SAM) is a validated self-report measure developed by researchers Daniela J. Palombo, Lynne J. Williams, Hervé Abdi, and Brian Levine at the Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Health Sciences, and the University of Toronto to assess memory for past events and future thinking. The SAM comprises items assessing self-reported:

Episodic Autobiographical: How vividly you recall specific events from your personal past
Semantic: How well you remember general facts and knowledge about the world and yourself
Spatial: How good you are at navigating and recalling spatial layouts of places
Future Prospection: How easily you can imagine and plan potential future events

Note: This survey is not a diagnostic tool. It is part of a research study exploring patterns of memory and future thinking across the spectrum of imagery experiences, including aphantasia.

Instructions: Below are a series of statements about different types of memory and future thinking. Please read each statement carefully and indicate how accurately it describes you. There are no right or wrong answers, so please be as honest as possible in your responses.

How accurately does each statement describe you?

Episodic Memory

The first questions concern your memory for past events from a specific time and place for which you were personally involved. Events are defined as occurring within a day or less. For example, a three-week vacation is not considered a specific event, but something that happened on one day during your vacation is considered a specific event.

The questions apply to events that happened at least 3-4 weeks ago (as opposed to something that happened just a few days ago). When answering, don't think about just one event; rather, think about your general ability to remember specific past events.

When I remember events, I have a hard time determining the order of details in the event.*

When I remember events, in general I can recall objects that were in the environment.*

When I remember events, in general I can recall what I was wearing.*

When I remember events, in general I can recall which day of the week it was.*

When I remember events, in general I can recall people, what they looked like, or what they were wearing.*

Semantic Memory

These questions concern your memory for facts, rather than specific events.

I can learn and repeat facts easily, even if I don’t remember where I learned them.*

After I have read a novel or newspaper, I forget the facts after a few days.*

After I have met someone once, I easily remember his or her name.*

I can easily remember the names of famous people (sports figures, politicians, celebrities).*

I have a hard time remembering information I have learned at school or work.*

I am very good at remembering information about people that I know (e.g., the names of a co-worker’s children, their personalities, places friends have visited etc.).*

Spatial Memory

These questions deal with your spatial memory (i.e., your ability to orient yourself in new or old environments).

In general, my ability to navigate is better than most of my family/friends.*

After I have visited an area, it is easy for me to find my way around the second time I visit.*

I have a hard time judging the distance (e.g., in meters or kilometers) between familiar landmarks.*

If my route to work or school was blocked, I could easily find the next fastest way to get there.*

Future Memory

The final questions relate to your imagination of future events that are specific in time and place and involve yourself (an event that has not yet taken place, such as a particular day on the beach at your upcoming vacation).

When I imagine an event in the future, the event generates vivid mental images that are specific in time and place.*

When I imagine an event in the future, I can picture the spatial layout.*

When I imagine an event in the future, I can picture people and what they look like.*

When I imagine an event in the future, I can imagine how I may feel.*

When I imagine an event in the future, I can picture images (e.g. people, objects, etc.).*

I have a difficult time imagining specific events in the future.*

How well do you remember?

Episodic Memory

Semantic Memory

Spatial Memory

Future Memory

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