Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Role of Hippocampus in Memory01:19

Role of Hippocampus in Memory

The hippocampus, a critical brain structure, plays an essential role in memory processing, particularly in the formation and retrieval of memory. This small, seahorse-shaped region is located within the medial temporal lobe, with one hippocampus in each brain hemisphere. Experimental studies involving lesions in the hippocampi of rats have demonstrated significant impairments in tasks such as object recognition and maze navigation, indicating the hippocampus involvement in both recognition and...
Higher Mental Functions of Brain: Learning and Memory01:26

Higher Mental Functions of Brain: Learning and Memory

Memory is one of the most vital higher mental functions of the brain. Memory is closely related to learning because it enables us to retain information and experiences from our past to use them in our present life. It also helps us to remember facts, events, and skills, such as riding a bike or swimming. There are two types of memory — declarative memory, which involves memorizing facts or events, and procedural memory, which enables us to remember how to do something like writing or playing an...
Association Areas of the Cortex01:21

Association Areas of the Cortex

Association areas are regions of the cerebral cortex that do not have a specific sensory or motor function. Instead, they integrate and interpret information from various sources to enable higher cognitive processes such as memory, learning, and decision-making. Some key association areas include the following:
Prefrontal Association Area: This area is located in the frontal lobe and is involved in planning, decision-making, and moderating social behavior. It connects with primary motor areas,...
Functional Brain Systems: Limbic System01:15

Functional Brain Systems: Limbic System

The limbic system, often called the "emotional brain," is a complex set of structures located deep within the brain. The intricate network of the limbic system supports a wide range of psychological functions, from emotional regulation to memory formation and sensory processing. This functional brain region encompasses specific parts of the diencephalon and the cerebrum, integrating the higher mental functions of the cerebral cortex with the primitive emotional responses of the deep brain...
Role of Amygdala in Memory01:16

Role of Amygdala in Memory

The amygdala is a small, almond-shaped structure responsible for processing and storing memories, particularly those linked to emotions like fear and stress. It plays an essential role in the brain's response to emotionally significant events and often enhances memory formation by triggering stress hormone release. The amygdala is vital for encoding and retrieving memories associated with fear or stress, a process that is adaptive by helping organisms avoid dangerous situations.
One of the...
Somatosensory, Motor, and Association Cortex01:23

Somatosensory, Motor, and Association Cortex

The somatosensory cortex in the parietal lobes is crucial for interpreting sensory data such as touch, temperature, and proprioception. The somatosensory cortex, situated in the parietal lobes, plays a vital role in interpreting sensory information like touch, temperature, and proprioception—awareness of body position. This specialized brain region features an organized structure wherein neurons at the top primarily process sensations originating from the lower body. In contrast, those at the...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Desynchronise, disconnect, reorganise, collapse (DDRC): A theoretical framework linking white matter pathology and cognitive dysfunction in vascular disease.

Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews·2026
Same author

Cerebrovascular health impacts processing speed through anterior white matter alterations: a UK biobank study.

Scientific reports·2025
Same author

The hippocampus supports the representation of abstract concepts: Implications for the study of recognition memory.

Neuropsychologia·2024
Same author

Experiencing Surprise: The Temporal Dynamics of Its Impact on Memory.

The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience·2022
Same author

Assessment of non-directed computer-use behaviours in the home can indicate early cognitive impairment: A proof of principle longitudinal study.

Aging & mental health·2022
Same author

Cognitive impairment in patients with moderate to severe chronic kidney disease: the Salford kidney cohort study.

Clinical kidney journal·2021

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 17, 2026

A Comprehensive Protocol for Manual Segmentation of the Medial Temporal Lobe Structures
12:30

A Comprehensive Protocol for Manual Segmentation of the Medial Temporal Lobe Structures

Published on: July 2, 2014

Associative memory and the medial temporal lobes.

Andrew Mayes1, Daniela Montaldi, Ellen Migo

  • 1School of Psychological Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK. andrew.mayes@manchester.ac.uk

Trends in Cognitive Sciences
|February 3, 2007
PubMed
Summary

Associative memory relies on medial temporal lobe (MTL) structures. A new framework explains how information convergence in the MTL supports associative memory and perception.

More Related Videos

Brain Imaging Investigation of the Memory-Enhancing Effect of Emotion
15:57

Brain Imaging Investigation of the Memory-Enhancing Effect of Emotion

Published on: May 4, 2011

Brain Imaging Investigation of the Neural Correlates of Emotional Autobiographical Recollection
11:30

Brain Imaging Investigation of the Neural Correlates of Emotional Autobiographical Recollection

Published on: August 26, 2011

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 17, 2026

A Comprehensive Protocol for Manual Segmentation of the Medial Temporal Lobe Structures
12:30

A Comprehensive Protocol for Manual Segmentation of the Medial Temporal Lobe Structures

Published on: July 2, 2014

Brain Imaging Investigation of the Memory-Enhancing Effect of Emotion
15:57

Brain Imaging Investigation of the Memory-Enhancing Effect of Emotion

Published on: May 4, 2011

Brain Imaging Investigation of the Neural Correlates of Emotional Autobiographical Recollection
11:30

Brain Imaging Investigation of the Neural Correlates of Emotional Autobiographical Recollection

Published on: August 26, 2011

Area of Science:

  • Cognitive Neuroscience
  • Neurobiology of Memory

Background:

  • Associative recognition and recall are critical memory functions dependent on medial temporal lobe (MTL) structures.
  • Current understanding of associative memory's functional heterogeneity and its distinction from intra-item memory remains debated.
  • A lack of a unifying theoretical framework has hindered research design and interpretation in associative memory studies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To propose and utilize a theoretical framework for understanding associative memory.
  • To elucidate the role of information convergence within MTL structures in supporting associative memory.
  • To differentiate associative memory from intra-item memory based on MTL contributions.

Main Methods:

  • Review and synthesis of psychological, lesion, and functional imaging evidence.
  • Application of a theoretical framework postulating that associative memories vary by informational component convergence in MTLs.
  • Analysis of how MTL structures generate familiarity- and recollection-supporting memory representations.

Main Results:

  • The proposed framework offers a coherent explanation for the functional heterogeneity of associative memory.
  • Evidence supports the idea that the degree of informational convergence in MTLs dictates the nature of memory representations.
  • Informational convergence in the brain is highlighted as the underlying mechanism for the associative nature of memory and perception.

Conclusions:

  • The theoretical framework provides a valuable lens for interpreting associative memory research.
  • Medial temporal lobe structures play a crucial role in associative memory through information convergence.
  • This convergence mechanism underpins both associative memory and perceptual processes.