Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 16, 2026

A Real-world What-Where-When Memory Test
Published on: May 16, 2017
Molecular contextualization of the neural correlates of episodic memory
Qian Fang1, Jingyao Chen2, Yongqi Zhang2
1Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China; Research Center of Clinical Medical Imaging, Anhui Province, Hefei 230032, China; Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory for Brain Bank Construction and Resource Utilization, Hefei 230032, China; Medical Imaging Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230031, China.
Background:
Considerable neuroimaging effort has been dedicated to investigate the neural correlates of episodic memory, but the micro-scale molecular mechanisms that underlie the macro-scale neuroimaging correlates of episodic memory are still unclear.
Methods:
Resting-state functional MRI data were obtained from a large cohort of 510 healthy young adults to calculate regional homogeneity (ReHo) to reflect spontaneous intrinsic brain activity. We then explored the relationship between California Verbal Learning Test-Ⅱ performance and ReHo across participants to delineate the neural substrates of episodic memory. Finally, we conducted the spatial relationship analyses between the neural correlates with gene expression and neurotransmitter atlases to further explore their potential genetic architecture and neurochemical underpinnings.
Results:
Our analysis revealed a significant negative correlation between episodic memory and ReHo in the bilateral precuneus. Additional spatial correlation analyses revealed that the identified neural correlates of episodic memory were associated with expression of gene categories predominantly implicating signal transduction, immune system process, cellular metabolic process and anatomical structure development, as well as were linked to serotonin transporter.
Conclusions:
These findings may not only offer novel insights into the molecular substrates underlying the neural basis of episodic memory, but also help inform prevention and intervention strategies for individuals in at-risk and early phases of dementia.
Related Concept Videos
Explicit Memories
Episodic memory contains information about personally experienced events and is reported as a story. An example of episodic memory is recalling a birthday celebration. This type of memory includes the what, where, and when of an event, as...
Storage
Role of Neurotransmitters in Memory
Glutamate and Synaptic Plasticity
Glutamate, the brain's main excitatory neurotransmitter, is critical for...
Role of Cerebellum and Prefrontal Cortex in Memory
Role of Amygdala in Memory
One of the...
Autobiographical Memory
