ERPs and oscillations during encoding predict retrieval of digit memory in superior mnemonists

Pan, Yafeng; Li, Xianchun; Chen, Xi; Ku, Yixuan; Dong, Yujie; Dou, Zheng; He, Lin; Hu, Yi; Li, Weidong; Zhou, Xiaolin

doi:10.1016/j.bandc.2017.06.012

Cited by 4 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 53 publications

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“…It is inconsistent with our suggestion that the greater theta and delta activities in the first digits (i.e., digits at odd-position in Pan et al, 2017) might be an index of increase top–down attentional control. One possible explanation is that the difference in mnemonic strategy between our participant and the mnemonists in Pan et al (2017). Our digit-span tasks was adapted to present a constant state of challenge at the limits of participant’s current performance level.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 92%

“…It should be noted that the mnemonists in Pan et al (2017) showed an increased P2 component and high-alpha oscillation on digits at even positions. Pan et al (2017) suggested that the increased P2 was likely to reflect early-stage attention allocation for mental imagery processing at even positions. It is inconsistent with our suggestion that the greater theta and delta activities in the first digits (i.e., digits at odd-position in Pan et al, 2017) might be an index of increase top–down attentional control.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 92%

“…Pan et al (2017) suggested that the increased P2 was likely to reflect early-stage attention allocation for mental imagery processing at even positions. It is inconsistent with our suggestion that the greater theta and delta activities in the first digits (i.e., digits at odd-position in Pan et al, 2017) might be an index of increase top–down attentional control. One possible explanation is that the difference in mnemonic strategy between our participant and the mnemonists in Pan et al (2017).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…showed a stronger activation in brain regions (e.g., frontal poles, left superior parietal lobule) associated with episodic memory while he used his mnemonic strategies for studying and recalling the 2-digit numbers. Most recently, Pan et al (2017) collected EEG activities while superior mnemonists and control participants performed a digit memory task (12 digits). They found that the mnemonists generated mental images by 2-digit groups to process the 12-digit number.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 4 more Smart Citations

Neural Evidence of Superior Memory: How to Capture Brain Activities of Encoding Processes Underlying Superior Memory

Yoon

Harper

Boot

et al. 2019

Front. Hum. Neurosci.

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Relatively little attention has been paid to the neural basis of superior memory despite its potential in providing important insight into efforts to improve memory in the general population or to offset age-related cognitive decline. The current study reports a rare opportunity to reproduce and isolate specific neural activities directly associated with exceptional memory. To capture the brain processes responsible for superior memory, we returned to a laboratory task and analytic approach used to explore the nature of exceptional memory, namely, digit-span task combined with verbal protocol analysis. One participant with average memory received approximately 50 h of digit-span training and the participant’s digit-span increased from normative (8 digits) to exceptional (30 digits). Event-related potentials were recorded while the participant’s digit span increased from 19 to 30 digits. Protocol analysis allowed us to identify direct behavioral indices of idiosyncratic encoding processes underlying the superior memory performance. EEG indices directly corresponding to the behavioral indices of encoding processes were identified. The results suggest that the early attention-related encoding processes were reflected in theta and delta whereas the later attention-independent encoding processes were reflected in time-domain slow-wave. This fine-grained approach offers new insights into studying neural mechanism mediating superior memory and the cognitive effort necessary to develop it.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 92%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 92%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Neural Evidence of Superior Memory: How to Capture Brain Activities of Encoding Processes Underlying Superior Memory

Yoon

Harper

Boot

et al. 2019

Front. Hum. Neurosci.

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Mnemonic-trained brain tuning to a regular odd-even pattern subserves digit memory in children

Pan,

Hao,

Liu

et al. 2023

npj Sci. Learn.

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It is said that our species use mnemonics – that “magic of memorization” – to engrave an enormous amount of information in the brain. Yet, it is unclear how mnemonics affect memory and what the neural underpinnings are. In this electroencephalography study, we examined the hypotheses whether mnemonic training improved processing-efficiency and/or altered encoding-pattern to support memory enhancement. By 22-day training of a digit-image mnemonic (a custom memory technique used by world-class mnemonists), a group of children showed increased short-term memory after training, but with limited gain generalization. This training resulted in regular odd-even neural patterns (i.e., enhanced P200 and theta power during the encoding of digits at even- versus odd- positions in a sequence). Critically, the P200 and theta power effects predicted the training-induced memory improvement. These findings provide evidence of how mnemonics alter encoding pattern, as reflected in functional brain organization, to support memory enhancement.

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Mnemonic-trained brain tuning to a regular odd-even pattern subserves digit memory in children

Pan

Hao

Liu

et al. 2023

Preprint

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

It is said that our species use mnemonics – that “magic of memorization” – to engrave an enormous amount of information in the brain. Yet, it is unclear how mnemonics affect memory and what the neural underpinnings are? In this electroencephalography study, we examined the hypotheses whether mnemonic training improved processing-efficiency and/or altered encoding-pattern to support memory enhancement. By 22-day training of a digit-image mnemonic (a custom memory technique used by world-class mnemonists), a group of children showed increased short-term memory after training, but with limited gain generalization. This training resulted in regular odd-even neural patterns (i.e., enhanced P200 and theta power during the encoding of digits at even- versus odd- positions in a sequence). Critically, the P200 and theta power effects predicted the training-induced memory improvement. These findings highlight the plasticity of the mnemonic system in the developmental brain, and provide evidence of how mnemonics alter encoding pattern, as reflected in functional brain organization, to support memory enhancement.

show abstract

ERPs and oscillations during encoding predict retrieval of digit memory in superior mnemonists

Cited by 4 publications

References 53 publications

Neural Evidence of Superior Memory: How to Capture Brain Activities of Encoding Processes Underlying Superior Memory

Neural Evidence of Superior Memory: How to Capture Brain Activities of Encoding Processes Underlying Superior Memory

Mnemonic-trained brain tuning to a regular odd-even pattern subserves digit memory in children

Mnemonic-trained brain tuning to a regular odd-even pattern subserves digit memory in children

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