Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 27, 2026
08:16
Combining Behavior and EEG to Study the Effects of Mindfulness Meditation on Episodic Memory
Published on: May 11, 2020
8.9K
Building up and wearing down episodic memory: Mnemonic discrimination and relational binding
Chi T Ngo1, Ying Lin2, Nora S Newcombe1
1Department of Psychology.
Journal of Experimental Psychology. General
|March 22, 2019
Summary
Episodic memory components, mnemonic discrimination and relational binding, show an inverted U-shaped trajectory across the lifespan. These memory processes develop through childhood and decline in old age.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Developmental Neuroscience
- Human Memory
Background:
- Episodic memory, crucial for recalling personal experiences, undergoes significant changes throughout the human lifespan.
- Understanding these changes necessitates dissecting episodic memory into its fundamental components, such as mnemonic discrimination and relational binding.
- Previous research indicates developmental trajectories for memory, but a comprehensive life-span analysis of distinct components is lacking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the developmental trajectories of mnemonic discrimination and relational binding across the entire lifespan, from childhood to old age.
- To examine how these distinct episodic memory components interact and change across different age groups.
- To utilize novel, life-span appropriate memory tasks to assess mnemonic discrimination and relational binding.
Main Methods:
- Development of novel animation-based memory tasks to assess mnemonic discrimination (distinguishing similar stimuli) and relational binding (integrating elements) across a wide age range (4–80 years).
- Experiment 1: Assessed object mnemonic discrimination and relational binding using a common task format.
- Experiment 2: Investigated context mnemonic discrimination and its impact on relational binding in varying contextual similarity.
Main Results:
- Both mnemonic discrimination and relational binding demonstrated an inverted U-shaped developmental curve across the lifespan.
- In Experiment 1, these two components were positively correlated only in the aging group.
- Experiment 2 revealed protracted development for relational memory in high-similarity contexts, with significant declines in aging across both context conditions.
Conclusions:
- Episodic memory components exhibit distinct, yet interconnected, developmental trajectories across the lifespan.
- Mnemonic discrimination and relational binding are differentially affected by age, highlighting the complexity of memory changes.
- This multiprocess, life-span approach offers critical insights into the evolving nature of human episodic memory.
Related Concept Videos
01:23Mnemonic Devices
419
Mnemonic devices are cognitive tools that facilitate memory retention by linking new information to familiar patterns or organizational strategies. These techniques are beneficial for remembering complex or lengthy sets of information by simplifying and structuring them in easily retrievable ways.
Acronyms
Acronyms are created by using the initial letters of a series of words to form a new word or phrase. This approach condenses complex information into a single, memorable entity. For example,...
Acronyms
Acronyms are created by using the initial letters of a series of words to form a new word or phrase. This approach condenses complex information into a single, memorable entity. For example,...
419
02:55Stereotypes, Prejudice, and Discrimination
95.4K
Humans are very diverse and although we share many similarities, we also have many differences. The social groups we belong to help form our identities (Tajfel, 1974). These differences may be difficult for some people to reconcile, which may lead to prejudice toward people who are different. Prejudice is a negative attitude and feeling toward an individual based solely on one’s membership in a particular social group (Allport, 1954; Brown, 2010). Prejudice is common against people who...
95.4K
00:49Ligand Binding and Linkage
5.6K
Allosteric proteins have more than one ligand binding site; the binding of a ligand to any of these sites influences the binding of ligands to the other sites. When a protein is allosteric, its binding sites are called coupled or linked. In the case of enzymes, the site that binds to the substrate is known as the active site and the other site is known as the regulatory site. When a ligand binds to the regulatory site, this leads to conformational changes in the protein that can influence...
5.6K
02:18The Equilibrium Binding Constant and Binding Strength
15.0K
The equilibrium binding constant (Kb) quantifies the strength of a protein-ligand interaction. Kb can be calculated as follows when the reaction is at equilibrium:
15.0K
02:40Ligand Binding Sites
15.0K
Proteins are dynamic macromolecules that carry out a wide variety of essential processes; however, the activities of most proteins depend on their interactions with other molecules or ions, known as ligands.
Protein-ligand interactions are quite specific; even though numerous potential ligands surround a cellular protein at any given time, only a particular ligand can bind to that protein. Moreover, a ligand binds only to a dedicated area on the surface of the protein, known as the...
Protein-ligand interactions are quite specific; even though numerous potential ligands surround a cellular protein at any given time, only a particular ligand can bind to that protein. Moreover, a ligand binds only to a dedicated area on the surface of the protein, known as the...
15.0K
01:24Generalization, Discrimination, and Extinction
1.4K
Generalization, discrimination, and extinction are key concepts in operant conditioning that influence how behaviors are learned and maintained.
Generalization occurs when a behavior reinforced in one context is performed in similar situations. For instance, a student who studies diligently for calculus and receives excellent grades might apply the same study habits to psychology and history, expecting similar results. Generalization shows how learning in one setting can influence behavior in...
Generalization occurs when a behavior reinforced in one context is performed in similar situations. For instance, a student who studies diligently for calculus and receives excellent grades might apply the same study habits to psychology and history, expecting similar results. Generalization shows how learning in one setting can influence behavior in...
1.4K