June 18-19, 2014

Conference venue: Radisson Blu Scandinavia Hotel, Aarhus

How different are human and non-human animals at remembering their individual past?

Determining the memory systems that support non-human animals’ capacity to remember past events is currently the focus of an intense research effort and a lively debate. Comparative psychology has largely adopted Tulving’s framework by focusing on whether animals remember what-where-when something happened (i.e., episodic-like memory). In contrast, research on human memory for past events (i.e., autobiographical or episodic memory) involves a variety of conceptions that has been absent from the animal literature, such as the distinction between specific episodes versus general events, intentional versus unintentional recall,  as well as the link between remembering and imagining. We believe that there is a need for bringing research on animal and human event memory closer together and explore the ways in which these two fields may enrich and challenge one another conceptually as well as methodologically.

We seek to do so by bringing together some of the most outstanding researchers in these areas to present their key findings and particular perspective on the conference topic. In addition, we invite all researchers in these areas to submit poster presentations describing some of their most recent and exciting findings concerning how human and non-human animals remember their past. Please note: Expertise in both areas (animal and human memory) is not required since the goal of the conference is to bring these fields together. Deadline for submission of poster abstracts is January 15, 2014.

Confirmed Speakers:

Josep Call, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology (Germany)

Nicola S. Clayton, University of Cambridge (England)

Martin A. Conway, City University, London (England)

Michael Corballis, University of Auckland (New Zealand)

Jonathon D. Crystal, Indiana University (USA)

Eleanor Maguire, University College London (England)

David C. Rubin, Duke University (USA)

Daniel L. Schacter, Harvard University (USA)

Clive Wilkins, University of Cambridge (England)

Thomas Zentall, University of Kentucky (USA)

Dorthe Berntsen, Aarhus University (Denmark)

The conference is hosted by Center on Autobiographical Memory Research (CON AMORE), a Center of Excellence funded by The Danish National Research Foundation and Aarhus University.

Conference Committee:

Dorthe Berntsen
Annette Bohn
Anne Scharling Rasmussen
Katrine Willemoes Rasmussen
Marie Kirk
Jette Odgaard Villemoes