Cognitive association formation in episodic memory: evidence from event-related potentials

Neuropsychologia. 2009 Dec;47(14):3162-73. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2009.07.015. Epub 2009 Aug 3.

Abstract

The present study focused on the processes underlying cognitive association formation by investigating subsequent memory effects. Event-related potentials were recorded as participants studied pairs of words, presented one word at a time, for later recall. The findings showed that a frontal-positive late wave (LW), which occurred 1-1.6s after the presentation of the second word of a pair during study, was associated with later paired associate recall. The observed LW likely reflected cognitive association formation processing. Paired associate recall was also associated with a larger P555 to each word of a pair, likely reflecting the encoding of each individual word of a pair, which necessarily precedes association formation between the two words. Moreover a larger N425 was elicited by pairs that were encoded in a low context-similarity condition compared to that of a high context-similarity condition, likely reflecting semantic integration. Minimum norm source analyses showed that the likely sources of these ERP effects changed dynamically in time: a widespread fronto-temporo-parietal activation during the N425 was followed by a fronto-temporal activation during the P555, and finally by a left prefrontal activation during the LW.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Association Learning / physiology*
  • Brain Mapping*
  • Cognition / physiology*
  • Electroencephalography / methods
  • Evoked Potentials / physiology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Memory, Short-Term / physiology*
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Photic Stimulation
  • Reaction Time / physiology*
  • Vocabulary
  • Young Adult