Varying demands for cognitive control reveals shared neural processes supporting semantic and episodic memory
Deniz Vatansever1,2, Jonathan Smallwood3, Elizabeth Jefferies3
1Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shanghai, PR China. deniz@fudan.edu.cn.
Nature Communications
|April 10, 2021
Summary
This study reveals shared neural processes for controlled retrieval in both semantic and episodic memory systems. Reduced interaction with default mode network hubs correlates with improved performance in both memory types.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Psychology
- Memory Research
Background:
- The distinction between semantic and episodic memory is foundational in memory research.
- The influence of cognitive control demands on this distinction requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare neural processes for controlled versus automatic retrieval in semantic and episodic memory.
- To investigate the neural basis of memory retrieval under varying cognitive control demands.
Main Methods:
- Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in a multi-session experiment.
- Individual difference analysis in a large-scale study.
- Identification of common cortical activity clusters for memory retrieval.
Main Results:
- A common cortical cluster in the left inferior frontal gyrus and anterior insular cortex was identified for retrieving both semantic and episodic memory traces.
- Reduced functional connectivity between this cluster and the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (a default mode network hub) was associated with enhanced performance in both memory types.
Conclusions:
- Shared neural mechanisms support the controlled retrieval of information from distinct long-term memory systems.
- Cognitive control plays a crucial role in accessing both semantic and episodic memories through common neural pathways.
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