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Abstract:
Memory retrieval has been conceptualized as involving the
reactivation of neural ensembles that were initially utilized to
encode the episode. In a source memory exclusion paradigm, in which
color was the critical contextual attribute, Cycowicz et al. (in
press) observed a late-onset, negative-going ERP episodic memory
effect (EM) on the scalp overlying visual cortical areas that was
not present during a simple, item recognition task. If this EM
effect is related to source memory search and/or retrieval for the
perceptual attributes of the original learning context then it
should also be present during simple yes/no recognition trials for
which a subsequent source memory judgment must be made. To assess
this, ERPs were recorded during two different source memory
paradigms. In the first, sequential old/new recognition judgments
were followed by source memory judgments. In the second, which was
an exclusion paradigm, covert source and old/new judgments were
combined. Despite differences in task requirements and performance,
for both tasks, late-onset, negative-going EM effects were observed
that were focused over parietal-occipital scalp. These findings
suggest that memories for perceptual attributes such as color are
stored in and searched/retrieved from sensory-specific cortical
areas.
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