Functional-Anatomic Correlates of Memory Retrieval That Suggest Nontraditional Processing Roles for Multiple Distinct Regions within Posterior Parietal Cortex

Abstract

Current theories of posterior parietal cortex (PPC) function emphasize space-based attention and motor intention. Imaging studies of long-term memory have demonstrated PPC activation during successful memory retrieval. Here, we explored the relationship between memory processes and classical notions of PPC function. Study 1 investigated old-new recognition using picture and sound stimuli to test whether PPC memory effects were dependent on visuospatial attention. A region lateral to the intraparietal sulcus [inferior parietal lobule complex (IPLC)] and two regions in the medial PPC [precuneus complex (PCC) and posterior cingulate/retrosplenial cortex (pC/Rsp)] showed strong retrieval success effects for both picture and sound stimuli. Study 2 explored a recognition task with varied response contingencies to investigate whether these retrieval success effects are dependent on motor intentions. In one condition, subjects responded to both old and new items. In two other conditions, subjects responded only to old or only to new items. IPLC, PCC, and pC/Rsp continued to show retrieval success effects with similar magnitudes for all response contingencies, including a condition in which no responses were made to old items. In a third study, IPLC and PCC activity was modulated at retrieval based on levels of processing at study, suggesting sensitivity to memory demands. These studies demonstrate that retrieval success effects in lateral and medial PPC regions are not affected by manipulations predicted by classical theories of PPC function but can be modulated by memory-related manipulations. PPC regions thus have prominent response properties associated with memory, which may arise through interactions with medial temporal cortex.

Task-dependent posterior cingulate activation in mild cognitive impairment

“…This is consistent with empirical evidence suggesting that the degree of PCC activation during retrieval is directly related to depth of processing at encoding (Shannon & Buckner, 2004) as well as a subjective sense of detailed, conscious re-experiencing of items during retrieval (Wheeler & Buckner, 2004). Thus, the retrieval of self-relevant information -information that is inherently meaningful, deeply-encoded, and salient to the rememberer would be expected to yield robust PCC activation.…”

“…Studies of episodic memory implicate the PCC in successful retrieval across a multitude of stimulus types and various presentation modalities. For example, PCC activation is elicited during recognition of sounds (Shannon & Buckner, 2004), objects and pictures (Shannon & Buckner, 2004;Wiggs, Weisberg, & Martin, 1999), buildings (Maguire, Frith, & Cipolotti, 2001), dot patterns (Reber, Wong, & Buxton, 2002), and thematic narrative information (Maguire, Frith, & Morris, 1999) learned during training sessions within the laboratory. Furthermore, the PCC activation is also elicited during recognition of visual and auditory materials drawn from a person's daily life.…”

The worth of pictures: Using high density event-related potentials to understand the memorial power of pictures and the dynamics of recognition memory

“…The general schema of this model can be found in Figure 8. Research from many investigators has influenced this model, including that from Wagner, Buckner, and their colleagues Shannon & Buckner, 2004;Buckner et al 2005) Yonelinas and the research he presents in his extensive review (Yonelinas, 2002), Schacter and colleagues (Schacter, et al, 1998;Schacter et al, 1999), Rugg and colleagues (Rugg & Wilding, 2000;Woodruff et al, 2006), Johnson and colleagues (Johnson et al, 1993), Brainerd and Reyna and their colleagues Brainerd, 1995), McClelland, McNaughton, andO'Reilly (1995), as well as others. And of course, we do not believe this simple model to be either exhaustive or the only way to view ERP memorial processes; it is nothing more or less than a tool that we are using to conceptualize what is occurring during recognition memory and to test in future experiments.…”

“…Current hypotheses generated by fMRI studies suggest that the parietal lobes play an important but relatively unknown role in retrieval success (Shannon & Buckner, 2004), which can be generalized across different modalities, response conditions, and task formats . The fact that the parietal cortex is active in both imaging and electrophysiological investigations of recognition memory has invited research to integrate both techniques to better understand the role of the parietal lobes in episodic memory (Iidaka et al, 2006).…”

Functional Heterogeneity in Posterior Parietal Cortex Across Attention and Episodic Memory Retrieval

“…The attentional account of PPC retrieval effects, while conceptually attractive at a number of levels, has been challenged by recent meta-analytic (Hutchinson et al 2009) and withinstudy (Sestieri et al 2010(Sestieri et al , 2011 evidence that suggests that the PPC subregions associated with top-down and bottom-up attention are anatomically separable from those associated with episodic retrieval (see also Shannon and Buckner (2004) for evidence of further visuospatial attention/retrieval dissociations). For example, drawing on the published attention and memory literatures, Hutchinson et al (2009) systematically assessed the overlap in PPC between effects of top-down and bottom-up attention and those of item memory strength and recollection.…”