Brain activations associated with shifts in response criterion on a recognition test.

Abstract

Sensitivity and bias can be manipulated independently on a recognition test. The goal of this fMRI study was to determine whether neural activations associated with manipulations of a decision criterion would be anatomically distinct from neural activations associated with manipulations of memory strength and episodic retrieval. The results indicated that activations associated with shifting criteria (a manipulation of bias) were located in bilateral regions of the lateral cerebellum, lateral parietal lobe, and the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex extending from the supplementary motor area. These regions were anatomically distinct from activations in the prefrontal cortex produced during memory-based retrieval processes (manipulations of sensitivity), which tended to be more medial and anterior. These later activations are consistent with previous studies of episodic retrieval. Determining patterns of neural activations associated with decision-making processes relative to memory processes has important implications for Cognitive Neuroscience, including the use of these patterns to compare memory models in different paradigms.

Response bias and aging on a recognition memory task

“…Our finding of age-related change in response bias is consistent with the frontal aging hypothesis (West, 1996). Several recent studies (Alexander et al, 2003;Bechara, 2001;Kramer et al, 2005;Manes et al, 2002;Miller et al, 2001;Windmann et al, 2002) suggest that frontal lobe mediated functions influence response bias. Investigators using functional magnetic resonance imaging (Miller et al, 2001) demonstrated increased activation of the dorsolateral prefrontal regions as well as more posterior regions during a recognition memory task in which subjects were instructed to be liberal or conservative in their responses.…”

“…Several recent studies (Alexander et al, 2003;Bechara, 2001;Kramer et al, 2005;Manes et al, 2002;Miller et al, 2001;Windmann et al, 2002) suggest that frontal lobe mediated functions influence response bias. Investigators using functional magnetic resonance imaging (Miller et al, 2001) demonstrated increased activation of the dorsolateral prefrontal regions as well as more posterior regions during a recognition memory task in which subjects were instructed to be liberal or conservative in their responses. Windmann et al (2002) demonstrated sensitive ERP responses in frontal sites in healthy young subjects who were divided into High and Low bias groups and differed only in their response bias scores.…”

“…Response bias has been linked to the frontal lobes, such that lesions to the frontal lobe will lead to a more liberal response set (Swick & Knight, 1999;Walton et al, 2004;Windmann et al, 2002). Importantly, response bias is theoretically independent of discriminability (Miller et al, 2001;Snodgrass & Corwin, 1988). Although response bias might change with normal aging as a consequence of frontal lobe atrophy, response bias in aging has not been fully explored.…”

Preserved metamemorial ability in patients with mild Alzheimer’s disease: Shifting response bias

“…Additionally, they considered that AFC may operate high-level control processes such as changing strategies of intentional retrieval for goal-directed behavior. As mentioned above, Miller et al (2001) found that brain activation associated with changes in bias were located in lateral cerebellum, lateral parietal lobe, and DLFC, whereas activations associated with changes in discrimination were located in AFC and medial prefrontal cortex. In summary, these studies suggest that aspects of metacognition related to response bias and its manipulation may depend upon the frontal lobes, and also possibly upon frontal lobe interaction with lateral parietal cortex.…”

“…Miller, Handy, Cutler, Inati, and Wolford (2001) were also able to manipulate discrimination and response bias independently in young controls in an fMRI study of recognition memory. During the study session, half of the words were shown once and half were shown thrice.…”