Not what u expect: Effects of prediction errors on item memory.

Ortiz-Tudela, Javier; Nolden, Sophie; Pupillo, Francesco; Ehrlich, Isabelle; Schommartz, Iryna; Turan, Gözem; Shing, Yee Lee

doi:10.1037/xge0001367

Cited by 17 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 53 publications

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“…Findings reported in a separate publication using the same data as the current study 26 showed that such context manipulation affected recognition memory. Specifically, memory was found to be better for contexts characterized by weaker expectations, compared to contexts in which expectations were stronger.…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 78%

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The Effect of Prediction Error on Episodic Memory Encoding is Modulated by the Outcome of the Predictions

Pupillo¹,

Ortiz-Tudela²,

Bruckner³

et al. 2022

Preprint

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Predictive processing accounts propose that our brain constantly tries to match top-down internal representations with bottom-up incoming information from the environment. Predictions can lead to prediction errors of varying degrees depending on the extent to which the information encountered in the environment conforms with prior expectations. Theoretical and computational models assume that prediction errors have beneficial effects on learning and memory. However, while there is strong evidence on the effects of prediction error on learning, relatively less evidence is available regarding its effects on memory. Moreover, most of the studies available so far manipulated prediction error by using monetary rewards, whereas in everyday life learning does not always occur in the presence of explicit rewards. We used a task in which participants leaned context/object-category associations of different strength based on the outcomes of their predictions. After learning these associations, participants were presented with trial-unique objects that could match or violate their predictions. Finally, participants were asked to complete a surprise recognition memory test. We used a reinforcement learning model to derive subject-specific trial-to-trial estimates of prediction error at encoding and link it to subsequent recognition memory. Results showed that model-derived prediction errors at encoding influenced subsequent memory as a function of the outcome of participants’ predictions (correct vs incorrect). When participants correctly predicted the object category, stronger prediction errors (as a consequence of weak expectations) led to enhanced memory. In contrast, when participants incorrectly predicted the object category, stronger prediction errors (as a consequence of strong expectations) led to impaired memory. These results reveal a computationally specific influence of prediction error on memory formation, highlighting the important moderating role of choice outcome that may be related to interactions between the hippocampal and striatal dopaminergic systems.

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Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 78%

“…For a more detailed description of the materials and methods used, please refer to the original publication 26 . For Experiment 1, six coloured scene categories depicting real-world outdoor locations were taken from the ECOS database (https://sites.google.com/ view/ecosdatabase/) were used as contexts (see Fig.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Effect of Prediction Error on Episodic Memory Encoding is Modulated by the Outcome of the Predictions

Pupillo¹,

Ortiz-Tudela²,

Bruckner³

et al. 2022

Preprint

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show abstract

“…To determine the best-fitting model for our analysis, we used a backward selection method (Barr, 2013;Ortiz-Tudela, Nolden, et al, 2023). We began with the most complex model that included age group, ending type and their interaction as fixed effects, and independent slopes and intercepts for participants and comic strips as random effects.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The relation between episodic memory and the anticipation of future states is far from unidirectional. It has been proposed that predictive processing might have a critical role on shaping how our brains store episodic information (Brod, 2021;Brod et al, 2022;Ortiz-Tudela, Nolden, et al, 2023;Quent et al, 2022;van Kesteren et al, 2012). In the current study, we attempted to jointly characterise the effect of expectedness on four different features of the retrieved episode.…”

Section: Prediction (Error) Impacts Different Aspects Of the Encoded ...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Schema-driven prediction effects on episodic memory across the lifespan

Ortiz-Tudela,

Turan,

Vilas

et al. 2024

Preprint

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The predictive processing framework posits that brain function is essentially predictive. Internal models facilitate mental time travel by predicting future states against which incoming information is compared. The difference between predicted and actual states, the prediction error (PE), signals novel information. However, the constrains of the further use of PE are not fully understood: In particular, with respect to how PE influence episodic memories across the lifespan. We examine the relationship between PE and episodic memory in children, young and older adults. We use a novel paradigm that uses rich visual narratives to build action schemas and enables measuring different mnemonic aspects. Critically, we manipulate the endings to be either expected, neutral, or unexpected based on the unfolded action. We show that 1) expected endings are better encoded than neutral ones and 2) unexpected endings upregulate encoding of the mismatching event but also of other aspects of the narrative. Moreover, these effects are modulated across the lifespan with PE-driven-encoding being more prominent in children and young adults and with schema integration playing a larger role on memory encoding in older adults. These results highlight the role of predictions in mental time travel by enriching past experiences and informing future anticipations.

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“…Prediction error often leads to better learning (Quent et al, 2021; Stawarczyk et al, 2020), and surprising actions are recognized more accurately than actions that are consistent with a particular situation (Ben-Yakov et al, 2021). Nevertheless, the relationship between prediction error and memory performance is complex; in some studies, both particularly high and low prediction error can benefit memory, while intermediate levels confer no advantage (Greve et al, 2019), yet in other studies, the opposite pattern is found (Ortiz-Tudela et al, 2023). In addition, there is a large literature showing that in many situations, events that are congruent with prior knowledge are better remembered (Bein et al, 2014; Brod & Shing, 2019; Craik & Tulving, 1975; Gilboa & Marlatte, 2017; Ortiz-Tudela et al, 2017; Raykov et al, 2021).…”

Section: The Present Experimentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

False memories for ending of events.

Raykov,

Varga,

Bird

2023

Journal of Experimental Psychology: General

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Memories are not perfect recordings of the past and can be subject to systematic biases. Memory distortions are often caused by our experience of what typically happens in a given situation. However, it is unclear whether memory for events is biased by the knowledge that events usually have a predictable structure (a beginning, middle, and an end). Using video clips of everyday situations, we tested how interrupting events at unexpected time points affects memory of how those events ended. In four free recall experiments (1, 2, 4, and 5), we found that interrupting clips just before a salient piece of action was completed, resulted in the false recall of details about how the clip might have ended. We refer to this as "event extension." On the other hand, interrupting clips just after one scene had ended and a new scene started, resulted in omissions of details about the true ending of the clip (Experiments 4 and 5). We found that these effects were present, albeit attenuated, when testing memory shortly after watching the video clips compared to a week later (Experiments 5a and 5b). The event extension effect was not present when memory was tested with a recognition paradigm (Experiment 3). Overall, we conclude that when people watch videos that violate their expectations of typical event structure, they show a bias to later recall the videos as if they had ended at a predictable event boundary, exhibiting event extension or the omission of details depending on where the original video was interrupted. Public Significance StatementOur memory for events is fallible: We often forget or distort certain details or even remember things that never actually happened. Here, we showed that participants often inaccurately remember how events ended if the events were interrupted unexpectedly. For instance, if a video clip of a cyclist preparing to ride a bike was interrupted before the cyclist left, people would often falsely remember that they saw the person riding their bike away at the end. Conversely, if the video clip continued to briefly show the cyclist arriving at their destination before the clip was finished, participants would often not recall this additional detail and remember that the clip ended with the person preparing to ride their bike. These experiments highlight how people are biased to recall events as having well-defined endpoints, even when that conflicts with what was actually experienced.

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Not what u expect: Effects of prediction errors on item memory.

Cited by 17 publications

References 53 publications

The Effect of Prediction Error on Episodic Memory Encoding is Modulated by the Outcome of the Predictions

The Effect of Prediction Error on Episodic Memory Encoding is Modulated by the Outcome of the Predictions

Schema-driven prediction effects on episodic memory across the lifespan

False memories for ending of events.

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