The relationship between level of processing and hippocampal-cortical functional connectivity during episodic memory formation in humans

Schott, B. H., Wüstenberg, T., Wimber, M. , Fenker, D. B., Zierhut, K. C., Seidenbecher, C. I., Heinze, H.-J., Walter, H., Düzel, E. and Richardson-Klavehn, A. (2013) The relationship between level of processing and hippocampal-cortical functional connectivity during episodic memory formation in humans. Human Brain Mapping, 34(2), pp. 407-424. (doi: 10.1002/hbm.21435) (PMID:22042493) (PMCID:PMC6870091)

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Abstract

New episodic memory traces represent a record of the ongoing neocortical processing engaged during memory formation (encoding). Thus, during encoding, deep (semantic) processing typically establishes more distinctive and retrievable memory traces than does shallow (perceptual) processing, as assessed by later episodic memory tests. By contrast, the hippocampus appears to play a processing‐independent role in encoding, because hippocampal lesions impair encoding regardless of level of processing. Here, we clarified the neural relationship between processing and encoding by examining hippocampal–cortical connectivity during deep and shallow encoding. Participants studied words during functional magnetic resonance imaging and freely recalled these words after distraction. Deep study processing led to better recall than shallow study processing. For both levels of processing, successful encoding elicited activations of bilateral hippocampus and left prefrontal cortex, and increased functional connectivity between left hippocampus and bilateral medial prefrontal, cingulate and extrastriate cortices. Successful encoding during deep processing was additionally associated with increased functional connectivity between left hippocampus and bilateral ventrolateral prefrontal cortex and right temporoparietal junction. In the shallow encoding condition, on the other hand, pronounced functional connectivity increases were observed between the right hippocampus and the frontoparietal attention network activated during shallow study processing. Our results further specify how the hippocampus coordinates recording of ongoing neocortical activity into long‐term memory, and begin to provide a neural explanation for the typical advantage of deep over shallow study processing for later episodic memory.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Wimber, Professor Maria
Authors: Schott, B. H., Wüstenberg, T., Wimber, M., Fenker, D. B., Zierhut, K. C., Seidenbecher, C. I., Heinze, H.-J., Walter, H., Düzel, E., and Richardson-Klavehn, A.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Psychology & Neuroscience
Journal Name:Human Brain Mapping
Publisher:Wiley
ISSN:1065-9471
ISSN (Online):1097-0193
Published Online:31 October 2011

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