| |
Abstract:
Abstract: Studies of the retrieval of autobiographically
relevant episodic memories have greater ecological validity than
many other episodic memory paradigms. Autobiographical memory
retrieval may be a frequent component of spontaneous mentation and
may typically involve emotionally meaningful information. We now
present three fMRI studies of autobiographical memory retrieval
which aim to 1) describe the distributed cortical network
associated with this process; and 2) to test the hypotheses that
this network includes regions with emotional functions and that it
includes many of the same regions that have been observed to be
especially active at "rest." Eight subjects retrieved memories
associated with intimately familiar names compared to unfamiliar
names presented auditorily in alternating 16" blocks. Four subjects
were directed to retrieve personal memories or synonyms associated
with auditorily presented nouns in alternating 32" blocks. Four
subjects were directed to focus their minds on their personal lives
or on the immediate scanning environment in alternating 32" blocks,
while no experimental stimuli were presented. The precuneus,
posterior cingulate cortex, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and
orbital frontal cortex were consistently activated during the
autobiographical memory retrieval tasks. This network includes
regions consistently associated with emotional processing
(posterior cingulate cortex and orbital frontal cortex) and
overlaps extensively with regions noted to be highly active at
"rest." Autobiographical memory retrieval cued by intimately
familiar names was associated with particularly strong and
consistent BOLD responses.
|
