Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 20, 2026

Brain Imaging Investigation of the Neural Correlates of Emotional Autobiographical Recollection
Published on: August 26, 2011
The Parahippocampal Cortex Mediates Contextual Associative Memory: Evidence from an fMRI Study
Mi Li1, Shengfu Lu1, Ning Zhong2
1International WIC Institute, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China; Beijing International Collaboration Base on Brain Informatics and Wisdom Services, Beijing 100124, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of MRI and Brain Informatics, Beijing 100053, China.
Abstract:
The parahippocampal cortex (PHC) plays a key role in episodic memory, spatial processing, and the encoding of novel stimuli. Recent studies proposed that the PHC is largely involved in contextual associative processing. Consequently, the function of this region has been a hot debate in cognitive neuroscience. To test this assumption, we used two types of experimental materials to form the contextual associative memory: visual objects in reality and meaningless visual shapes. New associations were modeled from either the contextual objects or the contextual shapes. Both contextual objects and shapes activated the bilateral PHC more than the noncontextual ones. The contextual objects with semantics significantly activated the left PHC areas, whereas the meaningless contextual shapes significantly elicited the right PHC. The results clearly demonstrate that the PHC influences the processing of contextual information and provides experimental evidence for an understanding of the different functions of bilateral PHC in contextual associative memory.
Related Concept Videos
Role of Hippocampus in Memory
Association Areas of the Cortex
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,...
Olfaction
The olfactory receptors are embedded in the cilia of the...
Role of Cerebellum and Prefrontal Cortex in Memory
Higher Mental Functions of Brain: Learning and Memory
Somatosensory, Motor, and Association Cortex

