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The neural basis of involuntary episodic memories.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Hall, SA; Rubin, DC; Miles, A; Davis, SW; Wing, EA; Cabeza, R; Berntsen, D
Published in: J Cogn Neurosci
October 2014

Voluntary episodic memories require an intentional memory search, whereas involuntary episodic memories come to mind spontaneously without conscious effort. Cognitive neuroscience has largely focused on voluntary memory, leaving the neural mechanisms of involuntary memory largely unknown. We hypothesized that, because the main difference between voluntary and involuntary memory is the controlled retrieval processes required by the former, there would be greater frontal activity for voluntary than involuntary memories. Conversely, we predicted that other components of the episodic retrieval network would be similarly engaged in the two types of memory. During encoding, all participants heard sounds, half paired with pictures of complex scenes and half presented alone. During retrieval, paired and unpaired sounds were presented, panned to the left or to the right. Participants in the involuntary group were instructed to indicate the spatial location of the sound, whereas participants in the voluntary group were asked to additionally recall the pictures that had been paired with the sounds. All participants reported the incidence of their memories in a postscan session. Consistent with our predictions, voluntary memories elicited greater activity in dorsal frontal regions than involuntary memories, whereas other components of the retrieval network, including medial-temporal, ventral occipitotemporal, and ventral parietal regions were similarly engaged by both types of memories. These results clarify the distinct role of dorsal frontal and ventral occipitotemporal regions in predicting strategic retrieval and recalled information, respectively, and suggest that, although there are neural differences in retrieval, involuntary memories share neural components with established voluntary memory systems.

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Published In

J Cogn Neurosci

DOI

EISSN

1530-8898

Publication Date

October 2014

Volume

26

Issue

10

Start / End Page

2385 / 2399

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • Oxygen
  • Mental Recall
  • Memory, Episodic
  • Male
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
  • Humans
  • Functional Laterality
  • Female
 

Citation

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Chicago
ICMJE
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Hall, S. A., Rubin, D. C., Miles, A., Davis, S. W., Wing, E. A., Cabeza, R., & Berntsen, D. (2014). The neural basis of involuntary episodic memories. J Cogn Neurosci, 26(10), 2385–2399. https://doi.org/10.1162/jocn_a_00633
Hall, Shana A., David C. Rubin, Amanda Miles, Simon W. Davis, Erik A. Wing, Roberto Cabeza, and Dorthe Berntsen. “The neural basis of involuntary episodic memories.J Cogn Neurosci 26, no. 10 (October 2014): 2385–99. https://doi.org/10.1162/jocn_a_00633.
Hall SA, Rubin DC, Miles A, Davis SW, Wing EA, Cabeza R, et al. The neural basis of involuntary episodic memories. J Cogn Neurosci. 2014 Oct;26(10):2385–99.
Hall, Shana A., et al. “The neural basis of involuntary episodic memories.J Cogn Neurosci, vol. 26, no. 10, Oct. 2014, pp. 2385–99. Pubmed, doi:10.1162/jocn_a_00633.
Hall SA, Rubin DC, Miles A, Davis SW, Wing EA, Cabeza R, Berntsen D. The neural basis of involuntary episodic memories. J Cogn Neurosci. 2014 Oct;26(10):2385–2399.
Journal cover image

Published In

J Cogn Neurosci

DOI

EISSN

1530-8898

Publication Date

October 2014

Volume

26

Issue

10

Start / End Page

2385 / 2399

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • Oxygen
  • Mental Recall
  • Memory, Episodic
  • Male
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
  • Humans
  • Functional Laterality
  • Female