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Updated: Jul 6, 2025

Examining the Characteristics of Episodic Memory using Event-related Potentials in Patients with Alzheimer's Disease
Published on: August 30, 2011
Prediction error and event segmentation in episodic memory
Sophie Nolden1, Gözem Turan1, Berna Güler2
1Department for Developmental Psychology, Institute of Psychology, Goethe-University Frankfurt am Main, Germany; IDeA-Center for Research on Individual Development and Adaptive Education of Children at Risk, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
Abstract:
Organizing the continuous flow of experiences into meaningful events is a crucial prerequisite for episodic memory. Prediction error and event segmentation both play important roles in supporting the genesis of meaningful mnemonic representations of events. We review theoretical contributions discussing the relationship between prediction error and event segmentation, as well as literature on episodic memory related to prediction error and event segmentation. We discuss the extent of overlap of mechanisms underlying memory emergence through prediction error and event segmentation, with a specific focus on attention and working memory. Finally, we identify areas in research that are currently developing and suggest future directions. We provide an overview of mechanisms underlying memory formation through predictions, violations of predictions, and event segmentation.
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