Exploring behavioral correlates of a hippocampaldependent implicit memory measure

SMSU Event Center BC

Traditional models of human memory are predicated upon the foundation that long-term declarative memory (i.e. memories recalled through conscious recollection of details) relies critically upon the integrity of the human hippocampus (a medial temporal lobe structure of the brain), whereas nonconscious or implicit memory does not. Prior findings have begun to question this core dogma of human memory and using electrophysiological methods (EEG) for capturing non-conscious memory signals, earlier work from our lab identified a hippocampaldependent implicit memory effect that was impaired in the electrophysiology of amnesia patients (Addante, 2015, Neuroimage) but without concurrent behavioral measures to provide crucial insight into the nature of this surprising impairment. The present study explores this same physiological effect, though with the added integration of behavioral measures that are critical to linking physiological impairments at the scalp with meaningful behavioral manifestations of memory deficits. This represents an innovation of new behavioral measures for studying implicit memory, and results are discussed in regard to methodological approaches to understanding brain-behavior relationships.