Toward a cognitive neuropsychology of awareness: implicit knowledge and anosognosia

J Clin Exp Neuropsychol. 1990 Jan;12(1):155-78. doi: 10.1080/01688639008400962.

Abstract

Although a systematic cognitive neuropsychology of awareness has not yet emerged, a number of phenomena reported in the literature provide an empirical basis for developing it. The present discussion focusses on two such phenomena: implicit knowledge, which refers to knowledge that is expressed in task performance unintentionally and with little phenomenal awareness; and anosognosia, which refers to unawareness of neuropsychological deficits. Two types of theoretical accounts of these phenomena are discussed. A first order theoretical account entails postulating damage to, or disconnection of, a system or process that generates awareness across multiple domains. A second-order account does not postulate disruption of a cross-domain awareness mechanism, but instead appeals to difficulties in gaining access to particular kinds of domain-specific information that are associated with aware expressions of knowledge in individual domains. Instances of first- and second-order accounts are illustrated with examples from studies of memory and amnesia. The relation between implicit knowledge and anosognosia is also discussed.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Agnosia / psychology*
  • Amnesia / psychology*
  • Awareness*
  • Brain Damage, Chronic / psychology*
  • Cognition*
  • Denial, Psychological
  • Depth Perception
  • Discrimination Learning
  • Form Perception
  • Humans
  • Mental Recall
  • Neuropsychological Tests*
  • Optical Illusions