Skip to main content
Journal cover image

Neural retrieval processes occur more rapidly for visual mental images that were previously encoded with high-vividness.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Gjorgieva, E; Morales-Torres, R; Cabeza, R; Woldorff, MG
Published in: Cereb Cortex
September 26, 2023

Visual mental imagery refers to our ability to experience visual images in the absence of sensory stimulation. Studies have shown that visual mental imagery can improve episodic memory. However, we have limited understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying this improvement. Using electroencephalography, we examined the neural processes associated with the retrieval of previously generated visual mental images, focusing on how the vividness at generation can modulate retrieval processes. Participants viewed word stimuli referring to common objects, forming a visual mental image of each word and rating the vividness of the mental image. This was followed by a surprise old/new recognition task. We compared retrieval performance for items rated as high- versus low-vividness at encoding. High-vividness items were retrieved with faster reaction times and higher confidence ratings in the memory judgment. While controlling for confidence, neural measures indicated that high-vividness items produced an earlier decrease in alpha-band activity at retrieval compared with low-vividness items, suggesting an earlier memory reinstatement. Even when low-vividness items were remembered with high confidence, they were not retrieved as quickly as high-vividness items. These results indicate that when highly vivid mental images are encoded, the speed of their retrieval occurs more rapidly, relative to low-vivid items.

Duke Scholars

Altmetric Attention Stats
Dimensions Citation Stats

Published In

Cereb Cortex

DOI

EISSN

1460-2199

Publication Date

September 26, 2023

Volume

33

Issue

19

Start / End Page

10234 / 10244

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Recognition, Psychology
  • Mental Recall
  • Memory, Episodic
  • Judgment
  • Imagination
  • Imagery, Psychotherapy
  • Humans
  • Experimental Psychology
  • 5204 Cognitive and computational psychology
  • 5202 Biological psychology
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Gjorgieva, E., Morales-Torres, R., Cabeza, R., & Woldorff, M. G. (2023). Neural retrieval processes occur more rapidly for visual mental images that were previously encoded with high-vividness. Cereb Cortex, 33(19), 10234–10244. https://doi.org/10.1093/cercor/bhad278
Gjorgieva, Eva, Ricardo Morales-Torres, Roberto Cabeza, and Marty G. Woldorff. “Neural retrieval processes occur more rapidly for visual mental images that were previously encoded with high-vividness.Cereb Cortex 33, no. 19 (September 26, 2023): 10234–44. https://doi.org/10.1093/cercor/bhad278.
Gjorgieva E, Morales-Torres R, Cabeza R, Woldorff MG. Neural retrieval processes occur more rapidly for visual mental images that were previously encoded with high-vividness. Cereb Cortex. 2023 Sep 26;33(19):10234–44.
Gjorgieva, Eva, et al. “Neural retrieval processes occur more rapidly for visual mental images that were previously encoded with high-vividness.Cereb Cortex, vol. 33, no. 19, Sept. 2023, pp. 10234–44. Pubmed, doi:10.1093/cercor/bhad278.
Gjorgieva E, Morales-Torres R, Cabeza R, Woldorff MG. Neural retrieval processes occur more rapidly for visual mental images that were previously encoded with high-vividness. Cereb Cortex. 2023 Sep 26;33(19):10234–10244.
Journal cover image

Published In

Cereb Cortex

DOI

EISSN

1460-2199

Publication Date

September 26, 2023

Volume

33

Issue

19

Start / End Page

10234 / 10244

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Recognition, Psychology
  • Mental Recall
  • Memory, Episodic
  • Judgment
  • Imagination
  • Imagery, Psychotherapy
  • Humans
  • Experimental Psychology
  • 5204 Cognitive and computational psychology
  • 5202 Biological psychology