Predicting the phenomenology of episodic future thoughts - PubMed (original) (raw)

. 2012 Sep;21(3):1198-206.

doi: 10.1016/j.concog.2012.05.004. Epub 2012 Jun 26.

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Predicting the phenomenology of episodic future thoughts

Arnaud D'Argembeau et al. Conscious Cogn. 2012 Sep.

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Abstract

Recent findings suggest that multiple event properties contribute to shape the phenomenology of episodic future thoughts, but the specific role of each property is not yet fully understood. This study shows that different phenomenological features are predicted by distinct event properties. The vividness of an episodic future thought largely depends on the familiarity of its constitutive elements (i.e., the envisioned location, persons and objects), while the visual perspective adopted is instead related to the temporal distance of the imagined event. Cognitive feelings such as the sense of pre-experiencing the future depend on sensory-perceptual qualities, and are further modulated by the personal importance attributed to the event. These findings suggest that the essence of episodic future thought-the sensation of mentally visiting one's personal future-lies, in part, in the relevance of imagined events with respect to personal goals.

Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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