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False memory for face in short-term memory and neural activity in human amygdala
Tetsuya Iidaka1, Tokiko Harada2, Norihiro Sadato2
1Nagoya University, Graduate School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, 65 Tsurumai, Showa, Nagoya, Aichi 466-8550, Japan.
Brain Research
|October 14, 2014
Summary
False memory for faces occurs in short-term recall. The amygdala shows a U-shaped response, indicating its role in detecting item saliency and modulating memory for both short- and long-term recall.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Neuroimaging
Background:
- Human memory is prone to inaccuracies, including false recognition of faces.
- The neural basis of face-related false memories, especially in short-term recall, is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if false face memories occur within the short-term memory range.
- To identify the neural correlates of veridical (accurate) and illusory (false) memories for faces.
Main Methods:
- Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to scan 19 healthy participants.
- Participants performed a short-term memory task involving morphed faces.
Main Results:
- Behavioral data confirmed the occurrence of false memories within the short-term memory range.
- The amygdala exhibited a U-shaped response curve to memory items (old, new, and lure faces).
- This pattern was consistent with previous findings on long-term memory.
Conclusions:
- The amygdala plays a consistent role in both short- and long-term false memory for faces.
- The amygdala is involved in saliency detection and memory modulation, beyond its role in fear processing.
- Amygdala activity and response time may correlate with an individual's response criteria for similar faces.
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