The aim of presented paper is to outline the future direction of autobiographical memory (AM) research in the frame of cultural-historical and activity approaches. Future study in mediation of AM should focus on: a) sub-cultural models of AM, which coexist in the same language context; b) inner dynamics of cultural life scripts; c) parameters of self-constructed tools for AM mediation. Activity approach considers voluntary memories as actions and involuntary memories as operations. The future study of involuntary memories should analyze the way of how conscious memories become unconscious and via versa. Looking at AM at the level of activity allow to understand reestablishing AM for personal development. 

The article reconstructs the stages of O.K. Tikhomirov’s scientific work. The main attention is paid to programs of studies of human thinking activity. The substance of the personal meanings theory of thinking is exposed. The contribution of O.K. Tikhomirov’s school to the development of A.N. Leontiev’s psychological activity theory is defined.

The paper discusses the possibilities of symbol application to the learning of function concept in primary school. Author differentiates symbol and sign mediation. . Symbolic mediation is divided into productive (which assists transfer to sign mediation) and unproductive. Three groups of children were learning concept of function according to three programs: traditional, based on sign mediation; experimental, based on productive symbolic mediation; experimental, based on unproductive symbolic . mediation. Experiment showed that symbolic mediation could be a productive way of learning concept of function if core relationships in image content of symbol that can bring to sign mediation are defined.