Evidence for an implicit influence of memory on future thinking

Szpunar, Karl K.

doi:10.3758/mc.38.5.531

Cited by 38 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 55 publications

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“…Indeed, rapid continuous cerebellar processing in the cerebellar circuit through feedforward independent modules could enhance the immediate and continuous representation of events, which is one of the key aspects of consciousness (Addis et al, 2009; Nyberg et al, 2010; Szpunar, 2010, 2011). Also worth noting is the specific involvement of the cerebellum in elaborating problems of a statistical nature .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Indeed, functional activation of the cerebellum has been revealed in relation to the conscious representation of time in tasks using internal memories (Addis et al, 2009; Nyberg et al, 2010; Szpunar, 2010, 2011). It should be noted at this point that one main theory on the working of the cerebellum is that it acts as a “comparator of intentionality with execution,” which is precisely what the whole brain continuously does in order to relate neuronal activity to the world.…”

Section: Brain Processing and The Cerebellummentioning

confidence: 99%

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Seeking a unified framework for cerebellar function and dysfunction: from circuit operations to cognition

D’Angelo

Casali²

2013

Front. Neural Circuits

268

282

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Following the fundamental recognition of its involvement in sensory-motor coordination and learning, the cerebellum is now also believed to take part in the processing of cognition and emotion. This hypothesis is recurrent in numerous papers reporting anatomical and functional observations, and it requires an explanation. We argue that a similar circuit structure in all cerebellar areas may carry out various operations using a common computational scheme. On the basis of a broad review of anatomical data, it is conceivable that the different roles of the cerebellum lie in the specific connectivity of the cerebellar modules, with motor, cognitive, and emotional functions (at least partially) segregated into different cerebro-cerebellar loops. We here develop a conceptual and operational framework based on multiple interconnected levels (a meta-levels hypothesis): from cellular/molecular to network mechanisms leading to generation of computational primitives, thence to high-level cognitive/emotional processing, and finally to the sphere of mental function and dysfunction. The main concept explored is that of intimate interplay between timing and learning (reminiscent of the “timing and learning machine” capabilities long attributed to the cerebellum), which reverberates from cellular to circuit mechanisms. Subsequently, integration within large-scale brain loops could generate the disparate cognitive/emotional and mental functions in which the cerebellum has been implicated. We propose, therefore, that the cerebellum operates as a general-purpose co-processor, whose effects depend on the specific brain centers to which individual modules are connected. Abnormal functioning in these loops could eventually contribute to the pathogenesis of major brain pathologies including not just ataxia but also dyslexia, autism, schizophrenia, and depression.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Brain Processing and The Cerebellummentioning

confidence: 99%

Seeking a unified framework for cerebellar function and dysfunction: from circuit operations to cognition

D’Angelo

Casali²

2013

Front. Neural Circuits

268

282

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“…However, further experimentation is required to examine these possibilities (see Schlagman & Kvavilashvili, 2008, for arguments concerning how cues and memory interact in involuntary past MTT; see Berntsen et al, 2013, for manipulations of cueing in relation to activating involuntary episodic memories). Another, but related, question concerns the role of unconscious processes in involuntary future thinking; specifically, the extent to which they are primed by previous thoughts or goals (see Szpunar, 2010). The present paradigm might also be developed to examine the emotional characteristics of involuntary MTT experiences in psychological disorders, such as depression and PTSD (see .…”

Section: Future Directionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Inducing involuntary and voluntary mental time travel using a laboratory paradigm

2015

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Although involuntary past and future mental time travel (MTT) has been examined outside the laboratory in diary studies, MTT has primarily been studied in the context of laboratory studies using voluntary construction tasks. In this study, we adapted and extended a paradigm previously used to elicit involuntary and voluntary memories (Schlagman & Kvavilashvili in Memory & Cognition, 36, 920-932, 2008). Our aim was -for the first time -to examine involuntary and voluntary future MTT under controlled laboratory conditions. The involuntary task involved a monotonous task that included potential cues for involuntary MTT. Temporal direction was manipulated between participants whereas retrieval mode was manipulated within participants. We replicated robust past-future differences, such as the future positivity bias. Additionally, we replicated key voluntary-involuntary differences: Involuntary future representations had similar characteristics as involuntary memories in that they were elicited faster, were more specific, and garnered more emotional impact than their voluntary counterparts. We also found that the future and past involuntary MTT led to both positive and negative mood impact, and that the valence of the impact was associated with the emotional valence of the event. This study advances scientific understanding of involuntary future representations in healthy populations and validates a laboratory paradigm that can be flexibly and systematically utilized to explore different characteristics of voluntary and involuntary MTT, which has not been possible within naturalistic paradigms.

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“…Contexts with a strong association to past experience resulted in more detailed future simulations (Szpunar & McDermott, 2008). In addition, implicit priming of social or academic experiences influenced responses in a future event simulation task (Szpunar, 2010b). Thus how we envision immediate and plausible futures can be influenced by previously experienced events and contexts.…”

mentioning

confidence: 98%

Imagining novel futures: The roles of event plausibility and familiarity

Anderson¹

2012

Memory

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The constructive episodic simulation hypothesis suggests that episodic memory supports the simulation of future events through extraction and recombination of stored information. The current study explicitly investigated the use of past episodic thought in the simulation of future scenarios. Participants simulated one of three possible scenarios, differing in plausibility and participants' prior experience of similar events. Participants recorded related memories and whether they were explicitly used during future event simulation. Memories were rated for source (self-experienced, other-experienced, or media). Findings suggest prior experience and event plausibility did not impact upon ease of future event simulation or the extent of memory usage during simulations. Differences emerged in the source of information used to assist future event simulation. These findings provide support for the hypothesis that episodic memories from a variety of sources are recombined when generating future simulations of novel events.

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Evidence for an implicit influence of memory on future thinking

Cited by 38 publications

References 55 publications

Seeking a unified framework for cerebellar function and dysfunction: from circuit operations to cognition

Seeking a unified framework for cerebellar function and dysfunction: from circuit operations to cognition

Inducing involuntary and voluntary mental time travel using a laboratory paradigm

Imagining novel futures: The roles of event plausibility and familiarity

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