The development of memory trace depending on the number of the standard stimuli

Clin EEG Neurosci. 2006 Jul;37(3):223-9. doi: 10.1177/155005940603700312.

Abstract

The mismatch negativity (MMN) component of the event-related potentials reflects the automatic detection mechanism of sound change. MMN is elicited by a neuronal mismatch process between deviant (infrequent) auditory input and the sensory memory trace of the standard (frequent) stimuli. Although many previous studies have investigated MMN to reveal the sensory memory mechanism, the development of memory representation still remains unclear, in particular, the topographical aspect of the trace-development in sensory memory has not been clarified. We measured the frontal and the temporal MMN components, respectively, when the sound trace was developed as the number of standard stimuli was changed to 1, 3, 5 or 7. In this experiment, the inter-train interval was 15 sec. The stimulus train with the different frequency of 800 Hz, 900 Hz, or 1000 Hz was repeatedly presented. Thus, we reduced the influence of the previous train. For the first time, we found not only the enhanced amplitude but also the shortened latency for both MMN components when the number of standard stimuli was increased. These findings indicate that both frontal and temporal MMN components reflect the development of memory trace depending on the number of standard stimuli.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acoustic Stimulation / methods*
  • Adaptation, Physiological / physiology
  • Adult
  • Attention / physiology*
  • Electroencephalography / methods*
  • Evoked Potentials, Auditory / physiology*
  • Female
  • Frontal Lobe / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Memory / physiology*
  • Neural Inhibition / physiology
  • Temporal Lobe / physiology*