Parietal Lobe Contributions to Episodic Memory Retrieval PDF

11 February 2024 17:04 Source Notes Parietal lobe contributions to episodic memory retrieval Introduction: Episodic memory relies on the medial temporal lobe (MTL) and prefrontal cortex. Recent studies suggest a role for the parietal lobe in episodic retrieval. This article reviews findings on parie...

11 February 2024 17:04 Source Notes Parietal lobe contributions to episodic memory retrieval Introduction: Episodic memory relies on the medial temporal lobe (MTL) and prefrontal cortex. Recent studies suggest a role for the parietal lobe in episodic retrieval. This article reviews findings on parietal activation during memory retrieval. (Wagner et al., 2005) The "old/new" effect: Parietal regions show greater activation for correctly recognized items ("hits") compared to new items ("correct rejections"). This effect occurs across different stimuli and response conditions. It might reflect successful retrieval processes, perceived item oldness, recollection, or retrieval orientation. Parietal activation and the perception of oldness: Even memory errors (false alarms) show parietal activation, suggesting it tracks perceived recognition. Recollection versus familiarity: Some parietal regions show increased activation during recollection -based recognition. Other regions seem sensitive to item familiarity regardless of recollection. This suggests functionally distinct subregions within the parietal lobe. Retrieval orientation: Parietal activation also depends on whether retrieval focuses on recollection or familiarity. Left parietal regions show greater activation during attempts to recollect specific details. This might involve attention mechanisms supporting strategic memory access. Relation to classical parietal functions: Lesions to the parietal lobe can cause attentional or motor deficits. Memory-related parietal activation doesn't seem to solely reflect these classical functions. Spatial attention and motor intention accounts appear unlikely to fully explain memory -related effects. Understanding parietal contributions to retrieval: Anatomical connections between the parietal lobe and MTL suggest potential interaction. The article proposes three hypotheses for how the parietal lobe might contribute to memory: Attention to memory representations: parietal mechanisms might guide attention to relevant internal representations during re trieval. Integration of memory information: parietal cortex might integrate information from MTL and other regions to support memory j udgments. Strategic control of retrieval: parietal lobe might help control and adjust retrieval strategies based on task demands and re trieval success. Critical analysis: The article highlights the growing evidence for parietal involvement in episodic memory. It emphasizes the need to differentiate between subregions within the parietal lobe with distinct roles. The proposed hypotheses remain theoretical and require further research for validation. More studies are needed to understand the specific mechanisms by which the parietal lobe contributes to memory retrieval. Brain networks underlying episodic memory retrieval (Rugg & Kaia, 2013) Introduction: Episodic memory: Allows us to consciously access and use past experiences. Dual-process model: Relies on recollection (qualitative details) and familiarity (simple recognition). Review focus: fMRI studies identifying brain regions involved in successful recollection. Memory Signals within the MTL: Hippocampus: Enhanced activity for successful recollection, related to amount of retrieved contextual information. Perirhinal cortex: Activity decreases with familiarity, suggesting a role in familiarity -based recognition. Parahippocampal cortex: Activity linked to retrieval of contextual information, a key feature of recollection. Connectivity: Studies show increased connectivity between these regions during successful recollection. Cortical Recollection Effects: General recollection network: Includes hippocampus, parahippocampal cortex, retrosplenial/posterior cingulate cortex, lateral parietal cortex, and mPFC. Network function: Content-independent, engaged during recollection regardless of content. Angular gyrus: Role unclear, possibly involved in attentional re -orienting, expectancy violation, representation, or information binding. Lesion studies: Damage to lateral parietal cortex doesn't affect recognition accuracy but impacts subjective aspects of recol lection. Content-Selective Recollection Effects: Cortical reinstatement hypothesis: Hippocampus reactivates event -specific cortical activity during recollection. MVPA studies: Support the hypothesis by showing similarity between encoding and retrieval activity patterns for recollected i tems. Single-item analysis: Recent study demonstrated reinstatement effects even at the individual item level. Summary and Open Questions: Functional roles: Clarifying the specific roles of each region within the network. Content-sensitive interaction: Understanding how the general network interacts with regions representing specific content. Binding problem: Explaining how distributed cortical activity is integrated into a coherent recollection. Critical Analysis: Strengths: Comprehensive review, clear explanations, recent findings included, different perspectives discussed. Limitations: Some hypotheses lack strong evidence, potential alternative explanations not fully addressed, questions remain u nanswered. Future directions: Further research needed to refine understanding of network functions, content -specific processing, and the binding mechanism. Readiness to remember: predicting variability in episodic memory Learning and Remembering: The Role of Preparatory Processes in Success and Failure It proposes a framework called "Readiness to Remember" (R2R) that suggests two key factors contribute to remembering: ○ Preparatory Attention: Our ability to focus and be mentally engaged before retrieval. ○ Preparatory Goal Coding: Our ability to represent and use the task goals associated with remembering. (Madore & Wagner, 2022) I. Introduction: Focus: Understanding why we forget, beyond encoding and retrieval processes. Emerging evidence: Preparatory processes before retrieval impact remembering success. R2R framework: Proposes attention and goal coding as key preparatory factors. II. Preparing to Remember: Episodic memory: Allows us to recall past experiences and use them in the present and future. Extensive research: Focuses on learning and encoding factors affecting remembering. Recent findings: Preparatory processes before retrieval also matter significantly. R2R framework: Explains how attention and goal coding influence retrieval attempts and memory success. III. Understanding Preparatory Attention and Preparatory Goal Coding: Preparatory Attention: Ability to focus before a task, including arousal, vigilance, and motivation. Preparatory Goal Coding: Ability to represent and use task goals, like cue structure and retrieval objectives. Relationship: Goal representation may exist without engaging attention, but attention can impact goal coding strength. Critical analysis: Need for future research to identify the specific forms of attention and their causal effects on behavior. IV. Readiness to Learn: R2R framework applied to encoding: Explains how attention and goal coding influence memory formation. Existing research: Shows how divided attention and goal representation at encoding impact subsequent memory. Neural mechanisms: Frontoparietal networks support attention and goal coding, influencing encoding processes in the hippocamp us. Critical analysis: Need for more research on how attentional fluctuations interact with goal coding and influence memory enco ding, considering individual differences. V. Preparatory Attention, Goals, and Episodic Retrieval: R2R framework applied to retrieval: Suggests attention and goal coding before retrieval impact memory success. Cognitive control network (CCN): Represents goal states, guiding attention to retrieval cues. Medial temporal lobe (MTL): Processes familiarity signals and hippocampal pattern completion for memory reinstatement. Goal coding: Influences evidence evaluation and decision -making during retrieval. Critical analysis: Need for more research on how attentional fluctuations and goal coding strength interact to influence retr ieval mechanisms and individual differences. VI. Empirical Evidence for Readiness to Remember: Emerging evidence: Supports R2R pathways linking attention, goal coding, and memory. Attention-goal-memory interactions: Studied mainly during retrieval itself, not preparatory periods. Future directions: Investigate interactions between attention and goal coding during preparation and their influence on memor y mechanisms and individual differences. VII. Conclusion: R2R framework: Offers a promising framework for understanding how preparatory processes contribute to memory success and fail ure. Future research: Needed to refine the framework, explore individual differences, and investigate the impact of R2R factors on higher-level cognitive functions like prospection and creativity. PSYC0031 Cognitive Neuroscience Page 1 Extra