Episodic memory processes modulate how schema knowledge is used in spatial memory decisions

Ramey, Michelle M.; Henderson, John M.; Yonelinas, Andrew P.

doi:10.1016/j.cognition.2022.105111

Cited by 10 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 51 publications

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“…We interpret the findings as evidence that that prediction confirmation leads to an enhanced episodic encoding process (Ramey et al, 2022), perhaps through facilitated processing of the expected stimulus (Sommer et al, 2022). In addition, the positive emotional response evoked by correct predictions might make the stimulus more salient (Lee & Sternthal, 1999).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 75%

“…These mechanisms could involve processes during encoding (e.g., Bransford & Johnson, 1972) that improve memory precision (Bellana et al, 2021), or reconstruction processes that improve retrieval of specific kinds of information (e.g., Anderson & Pichert, 1978). Schematic knowledge can serve as a probabilistic prior, biasing responses to be more schema-consistent (Alba & Hasher, 1983;Bartlett, 1932;Bransford & Johnson, 1972;Cheng et al, 2016;Graesser & Nakamura, 1982;Hemmer & Steyvers, 2009;Huttenlocher et al, 1991;Ramey et al, 2022), or providing retrieval cues that can allow access to weak episodic memories (Qureshi et al, 2014;Watkins & Gardiner, 1979). Recent work in visual scene perception has shown that patterns of visual attention for a repeated image are driven differentially by episodic memory versus schematic knowledge (Ramey et al, 2020), suggesting that eye movements in response to a memory cue could index the degree to which a schema-based retrieval strategy is being used.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Accurate predictions facilitate robust memory encoding independently from stimulus probability

Huang,

Furness,

Liu

et al. 2023

Preprint

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We can use prior knowledge of temporal structure to make predictions about how an event will unfold, and this schematic knowledge has been shown to impact the way that event memories are encoded and later reconstructed. Existing paradigms for studying prediction, however, are largely unable to separate effects of prediction accuracy from effects of stimulus probability: likely outcomes are assumed to be predicted, while unlikely outcomes are assumed to cause prediction errors. Here we use a novel approach in which we can independently manipulate prediction success and stimulus probability, by using real-time eye-tracking when viewing moves in a board game. The moves can be consistent or inconsistent with a participant’s predictions (assessed via fixation patterns) and can be also be likely or unlikely to be played by a strategic player. By decorrelating these two measures, we found that both probability and prediction accuracy boost memory through two separate mechanisms, leading to different eye-movement strategies at retrieval. Accurate prediction improved encoding precision, allowing participants to directly retrieve these moves without the use of schematic knowledge. Probable moves, on the other hand, led to improved memory through a retrieval-time strategy in which schematic knowledge was used to generate candidate moves for recognition. These results challenge the prevailing idea that only prediction errors can enhance event memories, and provide a more realistic paradigm for studying schemas, learning, and decision making.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 75%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Accurate predictions facilitate robust memory encoding independently from stimulus probability

Huang,

Furness,

Liu

et al. 2023

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…For instance, the recollection of a morning commute may be built from prototypes of the usual route and means of transportation incorporated with details unique to that trip (e.g., roadworks exacerbating traffic). While the veracity of a memory hinges upon the extent to which reconstruction relies on episodic (over non-episodic) details [4,5,7], it remains unclear whether we possess metacognitive awareness of distortions introduced by non-episodic details. Here, we address this question, finding that we have little confidence in memories that are prototypical in nature.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, when participants are tasked with encoding dots presented within a circle, subsequent recollection of individual dots will be biased by the centre mass of other nearby dots [5]. This prototypical bias has been observed for a range of stimuli, including spatial locations [3,5,[7][8][9][10], objects [4,6,11,12], colours [13][14][15][16][17][18], faces [19][20][21] and words [22][23][24]. Importantly, these influences have real-world consequences such as in eyewitness testimony [25][26][27][28]: misidentification may occur when recalling an individual face that aligns with a "criminal" stereotype [29], which may result in wrongful convictions [30].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Metacognitive awareness of memory distortion during recall

Kerren,

Zhao,

Griffiths

2024

Preprint

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When we recall a past event, we reconstruct the event based on a combination of episodic details and semantic knowledge (e.g., prototypes). Though prototypes can impair the veracity of recall, it remains unclear whether we are metacognitively aware of the distortions they introduce. To address this, we conducted six experiments in which participants learned object-colour/object-location pairs and subsequently recalled the colour/location when cued with the object. Leveraging unsupervised machine learning algorithms, we extracted participant-specific prototypes and embedded responses in two-dimensional space to quantify prototype-based distortions in individual memory traces. Our findings reveal robust and conceptually replicable evidence to suggest that prototype-based distortion is accompanied by a reduction in self-reported confidence - an implicit measure of metacognitive awareness. Critically, we find evidence to suggest that it is prototype-based distortion of a memory trace that undermines confidence, rather than a lack of confidence biasing reconstruction towards the use of prototypes. Collectively, these findings suggest that we possess metacognitive awareness of distortions embedded in our memories.

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“…Systems memory consolidation processes may both strengthen episodic memories and promote the transition from episodic to schema memory (Inostroza and Born, 2013 ; Schapiro et al, 2017 ). Episodic details are lost either through processes of decay or processes of interference (Sadeh et al, 2014 , 2016 ; Polack et al, 2017 ; Sun et al, 2017 ), and recent studies in humans demonstrated that schema memory guides the recall of spatial and item memories of an experienced episode after longer retention times when their relative strengths change (Zeng et al, 2021 ; Ramey et al, 2022 ). However, it is unknown whether these processes can occur in parallel or are competing processes as they rely on similar neural structures.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Information Load on Schema and Episodic Memory Formation

Harkotte

Contreras

Inostroza

et al. 2022

Front. Behav. Neurosci.

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The formation of semantic memories is assumed to result from the abstraction of general, schema-like knowledge across multiple experiences, while at the same time, episodic details from individual experiences are forgotten. Against this backdrop, our study examined the effects of information load (high vs. low) during encoding on the formation of episodic and schema memory using an elaborated version of an object-place recognition (OPR) task in rats. The task allowed for the abstraction of a spatial rule across four (low information load) or eight (high information load) encoding episodes (spaced apart by a 20 min interval) in which the rats could freely explore two objects in an open field arena. After this encoding phase, animals were left undisturbed for 24 h and then tested either for the expression of schema memory, i.e., for the spatial rule, or memory for an individual encoding episode. Rats in the high information load condition exhibited a more robust schema memory for the spatial rule than in the low information load condition. In contrast, rats in the low load condition showed more robust memory for individual learning episodes than in the high information load condition. Our findings of opposing effects might point to an information-load-dependent competitive relationship between processes of schema and episodic memory formation, although other explanations are possible.

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Episodic memory processes modulate how schema knowledge is used in spatial memory decisions

Cited by 10 publications

References 51 publications

Accurate predictions facilitate robust memory encoding independently from stimulus probability

Accurate predictions facilitate robust memory encoding independently from stimulus probability

Metacognitive awareness of memory distortion during recall

Effects of Information Load on Schema and Episodic Memory Formation

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