SDAM Test AMS-16: How do you remember your own life?
The AMS-16 is a free self-test of autobiographical memory: how vividly you relive your personal past. 16 statements in 4 groups, scale 1–5. Methodology modeled on autobiographical memory research (SAM: Palombo et al., 2013) — with items written in our own words. It does not establish SDAM; it shows how close your answers come to the pattern described by Palombo et al. (2015).
- Methodology modeled on SAM (Palombo et al. 2013)
- No account needed
- Instant results
Take the AMS-16 Test
Take 5 minutes in a quiet, undisturbed environment.
Estimated duration: approx. 5 min
AMS-16 – Autobiographical Memory Spectrum
The AMS-16 is aphantasie.org's own self-assessment, modelled on the methodology of research questionnaires on autobiographical memory (SAM: Palombo et al., 2013; 26 items); the items are written in our own words and informed by published research methods. It is a self-assessment, not a psychometrically validated instrument, and does not replace clinical assessment or diagnosis of SDAM (Severely Deficient Autobiographical Memory).
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Developed in-house on the basis of the research literature. Modelled on established instruments, but not independently validated. Not a diagnostic procedure – the results are intended for self-assessment.
How the test works:
- 1You will answer 16 statements in 4 groups
- 2Think about how you typically remember your own past
- 3Rate on a scale from 1–5 how much each statement applies to you
- 4There are no right or wrong answers – be honest with yourself
Either way, nothing is stored on our servers.
More about privacyWhat does the AMS-16 measure?
The AMS-16 is aphantasie.org's own self-assessment, modelled on the methodology of research questionnaires on autobiographical memory (SAM: Palombo et al., 2013; 26 items); the items are written in our own words and informed by published research methods. It is a self-assessment, not a psychometrically validated instrument, and does not replace clinical assessment or diagnosis of SDAM.
The AMS-16 (Autobiographical Memory Spectrum) is a self-test by aphantasie.org. Its structure is modelled on the Survey of Autobiographical Memory (SAM, Palombo, Williams, Abdi & Levine, 2013) — a self-report measure of everyday memory traits with 26 items. The AMS-16 uses 16 items written in our own words and informed by published research methods. The SDAM syndrome (Severely Deficient Autobiographical Memory) was introduced in 2015 by Palombo et al. in Neuropsychologia.
The test covers 4 dimensions of memory (episodic, semantic, spatial, future) with 4 items each. You rate on a scale from 1–5 how much each statement applies to you. The episodic score (4–20) is the primary axis of the assessment — however, the separation of episodic and semantic components is not psychometrically supported (Palombo et al. 2013; Setton et al. 2022): the subscales are not independent and should not be read as specific measures of episodic or semantic memory.
The AMS-16 is a self-report measure, not a psychometrically validated instrument or diagnostic tool. There is currently no published clinical cutoff for SDAM in self-report questionnaires — our result bands are a transparent internal convention, not a scientific citation.
How it works
How to take the Autobiographical Memory Spectrum (AMS-16) correctly.
- Choose a quiet environmentSit down in a quiet place without distractions for about 5 minutes.
- Think about your own pastFor each statement, think about how you typically remember events, facts, places, and the future — not one specific memory.
- Rate 16 statements honestlyRate how much each statement applies to you, from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree).
- Don't overthink the 'right' answerThe AMS-16 measures your subjective experience. Answer intuitively.
- Interpret your resultAfter the last item, you'll see your episodic score (4–20) and a breakdown across all 4 memory dimensions.
Methodological basis
- Palombo, D.J., Williams, L.J., Abdi, H., & Levine, B. (2013). The survey of autobiographical memory (SAM): A novel measure of trait mnemonics in everyday life. Cortex, 49(6), 1526–1540.
Frequently Asked Questions about the AMS-16
What is the AMS-16?
The AMS-16 (Autobiographical Memory Spectrum) is an original self-test by aphantasie.org. It is modelled on the methodology of the SAM (Palombo et al., 2013; 26 items) but contains items written in our own words (16 items).
What is SDAM?
SDAM (Severely Deficient Autobiographical Memory) is a lifelong pattern that Palombo et al. (2015) described in healthy adults: they can learn and retain facts about their past but don't 're-live' personal events as vivid scenes. SDAM partly overlaps with aphantasia; how closely is not yet clear (Zeman 2024).
Does the AMS-16 show whether I have SDAM?
No. There is no fixed cut-off for SDAM, including in questionnaires. The AMS-16 only shows how similar your answers are to the pattern described by Palombo et al. (2015): facts about your own life are retained, but the sense of re-living what happened is largely missing. The result is an orientation, not a diagnosis.
How long does the AMS-16 take?
The AMS-16 takes about 5 minutes. You answer 16 statements on a 5-point scale and get your result instantly.
What does my episodic score mean?
Your episodic score (4–20) reflects how vividly you re-experience specific personal events. It is intended as orientation: the SAM subscales for episodic and semantic memory are not independent and should not be interpreted as specific individual measures (Palombo et al. 2013; Setton et al. 2022). There is no published clinical cutoff for SDAM in self-report — our result bands are a transparent internal convention, not a diagnosis.
Is the AMS-16 scientifically validated?
The AMS-16 follows the methodology of autobiographical memory research (SAM: Palombo et al. 2013), but contains items written in our own words and has not been separately psychometrically validated. It is a self-report measure for personal orientation — not a diagnostic instrument.
Is there an official test for SDAM?
We are not aware of a publicly available, validated self-screening tool for SDAM with instant results. Researchers use the proprietary SAM questionnaire (copyright Baycrest Centre) in study contexts. The AMS-16 is aphantasie.org's own, freely accessible self-assessment inspired by this research.
Is the AMS-16 free?
Yes. The test is completely free, runs directly in your browser without registration, and delivers your result instantly.
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