Vision, Hearing Erp Study Of Memory Encoding And Retrieval

Results from behavioral studied have supported the idea that recognition memory can be supported by at least two different processes, recollection and familiarity. However, it remains unclear whether these two forms of memory reflect neurally distinct processes. Furthermore, it is unclear whether recollection and familiarity can be best conceived as differing primarily in terms of retrieval processing, or whether they additionally differ at encoding. Moreover, little attention has been directed to the characterization of this ERP recognition memory effect using auditory stimuli.To address these issues, we used event-related brain potentials (ERPs) to monitor neural correlates of familiarity and recollection at both encoding and retrieval. Fourteen graduates engaged in our experiment. Participants studied Chinese words under incidental learning conditions in which each words required a two-choice decision based on semantic criteria (living/nonliving) and subsequently made remember/know judgments during retrieval. Words were presented in either visual or auditory modality.The expected remember and know Dm effect at encoding and remember and know old/new effect at retrieval were observed in both modalities, but exhibited differences in scalp topography and time course. As a results, for Dm effect and old/new effect, it was possible visual and auditory modality rely on the different neurocognitive system. Importantly, only visual modality showed significant subsequent recollection effect during encoding and significant recollection effect during retrieval. This result supported a hypothesis that the mental resources and encoding strength transferred and assigned to items differently in both modalities induce that no significant recollection effect in auditory modality.