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| Research article summary (published 6 Feb 2009): |
An electrophysiological signature of unconscious recognition memory.
Full Abstract
Contradicting the common assumption that accurate recognition reflects explicit-memory processing, we provide evidence for recognition lacking two hallmark explicit-memory features: awareness of memory retrieval and facilitation by attentive encoding. Kaleidoscope images were encoded in conjunction with an attentional diversion and were subsequently recognized more accurately than those encoded without diversion. Confidence in recognition was superior following attentive encoding, although recognition was markedly accurate when people claimed to be unaware of memory retrieval. This 'implicit recognition' was associated with frontal-occipital negative brain potentials at 200-400 ms post-stimulus-onset, which were spatially and temporally distinct from positive brain potentials corresponding to explicit recollection and familiarity. This dissociation between behavioral and electrophysiological characteristics of 'implicit recognition' versus explicit recognition indicates that a neurocognitive mechanism with properties similar to those that produce implicit memory can be operative in standard recognition tests. People can accurately discriminate repeat stimuli from new stimuli without necessarily knowing it.
Author information
Author/s: Voss, Joel L (JL); Paller, Ken A (KA);
Affiliation: Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program and Department of Psychology, Northwestern University, 2029 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois 60208, USA. joelvoss(-atsign-)illinois.edu
Grants: P30 AG013854-08 (Agency:NIA NIH HHS) ; P30-AG13854 (Agency:NIA NIH HHS)
Journal and publication information
Publication Type: Comparative Study; Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
Journal: Nature neuroscience (Nat Neurosci), published in United States. (Language: eng)
Reference: 2009-Mar; vol 12 (issue 3) : pp 349-55
Dates: Created 2009/02/24; Completed 2009/03/16; Revised 2009/09/02;
PMID: 19198606, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 9/4/2009, IMS Date: )
Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.
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