Concrete and Abstract Information in Semantic and Episodic Memory

In the present study abstract or concrete target nouns had to be retrieved from semantic memory within 1 min. after the definitions of the nouns had been presented to subjects (Brown and McNeill's paradigm). Following the definition session 22 subjects were unexpectedly asked to recall the target nouns from episodic memory. Semantic memory as well as episodic memory retrieval was better for concrete than for abstract nouns. These results could not be explained in terms of a higher adequacy of definitions for the concrete words. The results seem to support those theories of memory which postulate a dual-code representation of information, especially a verbal code and an imagery code.

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Imaging Cognition II: An Empirical Review of 275 PET and fMRI Studies

Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience ◽

10.1162/08989290051137585 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 1-47 ◽

Cited By ~ 2178

Author(s):

Roberto Cabeza ◽

Lars Nyberg

Keyword(s):

Working Memory ◽

Episodic Memory ◽

Semantic Memory ◽

Memory Retrieval ◽

Procedural Memory ◽

Spatial Problem ◽

Memory Encoding ◽

Functional Neuroanatomy ◽

Activation Patterns ◽

Space Motion

Positron emission tomography (PET) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) have been extensively used to explore the functional neuroanatomy of cognitive functions. Here we review 275 PET and fMRI studies of attention (sustained, selective, Stroop, orientation, divided), perception (object, face, space/motion, smell), imagery (object, space/ motion), language (written/spoken word recognition, spoken/ no spoken response), working memory (verbal/numeric, object, spatial, problem solving), semantic memory retrieval (categorization, generation), episodic memory encoding (verbal, object, spatial), episodic memory retrieval (verbal, nonverbal, success, effort, mode, context), priming (perceptual, conceptual), and procedural memory (conditioning, motor, and nonmotor skill learning). To identify consistent activation patterns associated with these cognitive operations, data from 412 contrasts were summarized at the level of cortical Brodmann's areas, insula, thalamus, medial-temporal lobe (including hippocampus), basal ganglia, and cerebellum. For perception and imagery, activation patterns included primary and secondary regions in the dorsal and ventral pathways. For attention and working memory, activations were usually found in prefrontal and parietal regions. For language and semantic memory retrieval, typical regions included left prefrontal and temporal regions. For episodic memory encoding, consistently activated regions included left prefrontal and medial-temporal regions. For episodic memory retrieval, activation patterns included prefrontal, medial-temporal, and posterior midline regions. For priming, deactivations in prefrontal (conceptual) or extrastriate (perceptual) regions were consistently seen. For procedural memory, activations were found in motor as well as in non-motor brain areas. Analysis of regional activations across cognitive domains suggested that several brain regions, including the cerebellum, are engaged by a variety of cognitive challenges. These observations are discussed in relation to functional specialization as well as functional integration.

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Influence of Aging on the Neural Correlates of Autobiographical, Episodic, and Semantic Memory Retrieval

Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience ◽

10.1162/jocn_a_00079 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 23 (12) ◽

pp. 4150-4163 ◽

Cited By ~ 53

Author(s):

Marie St-Laurent ◽

Hervé Abdi ◽

Hana Burianová ◽

Cheryl L. Grady

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Episodic Memory ◽

Semantic Memory ◽

Memory Retrieval ◽

Memory Task ◽

Neural Correlates ◽

Partial Least Square ◽

Least Square ◽

Younger Adults ◽

Age Related

We used fMRI to assess the neural correlates of autobiographical, semantic, and episodic memory retrieval in healthy young and older adults. Participants were tested with an event-related paradigm in which retrieval demand was the only factor varying between trials. A spatio-temporal partial least square analysis was conducted to identify the main patterns of activity characterizing the groups across conditions. We identified brain regions activated by all three memory conditions relative to a control condition. This pattern was expressed equally in both age groups and replicated previous findings obtained in a separate group of younger adults. We also identified regions whose activity differentiated among the different memory conditions. These patterns of differentiation were expressed less strongly in the older adults than in the young adults, a finding that was further confirmed by a barycentric discriminant analysis. This analysis showed an age-related dedifferentiation in autobiographical and episodic memory tasks but not in the semantic memory task or the control condition. These findings suggest that the activation of a common memory retrieval network is maintained with age, whereas the specific aspects of brain activity that differ with memory content are more vulnerable and less selectively engaged in older adults. Our results provide a potential neural mechanism for the well-known age differences in episodic/autobiographical memory, and preserved semantic memory, observed when older adults are compared with younger adults.

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