Multimodal imaging of incidental retrieval : the low route to memory

• Memories of past episodes frequently come to mind incidentally, without directed search. It has remained unclear how incidental retrieval processes are initiated in the brain. Here we used fMRI and ERP recordings to find brain activity that specifically correlates with incidental retrieval, as compared to intentional retrieval. Intentional retrieval was associated with increased activation in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. By contrast, incidental retrieval was associated with a reduced fMRI signal in posterior brain regions, including extrastriate and parahippocampal cortex, and a modulation of a posterior ERP component 170 ms after the onset of visual retrieval cues. Successful retrieval under both intentional and incidental conditions was associated with increased activation in hippocampus, precuneus and ventrolateral prefrontal cortex, as well as increased amplitude of the P600 ERP component. These results demonstrate how early bottom-up signals from the posterior cortex can lead to reactivation of episodic memories in the absence of strategic retrieval attempts.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Medicinska och farmaceutiska grundvetenskaper -- Fysiologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Basic Medicine -- Physiology (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

incidental retrieval

episodic memory

fMRI

ERP

Neurophysiology

Neurofysiologi

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)