Differential neural activity during search of specific and general autobiographical memories elicited by musical cues

Abstract

Previous neuroimaging studies that have examined autobiographical memory specificity have utilized retrieval cues associated with prior searches of the event, potentially changing the retrieval processes being investigated. In the current study, musical cues were used to naturally elicit memories from multiple levels of specificity (i.e., lifetime period, general event, and event-specific). Sixteen young adults participated in a neuroimaging study in which they retrieved autobiographical memories associated with musical cues. These musical cues led to the retrieval of highly emotional memories that had low levels of prior retrieval. Retrieval of all autobiographical memory levels was associated with activity in regions in the autobiographical memory network, specifically the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, posterior cingulate, and right medial temporal lobe. Owing to the use of music, memories from varying levels of specificity were retrieved, allowing for comparison of event memory and abstract personal knowledge, as well as comparison of specific and general event memory. Dorsolateral and dorsomedial prefrontal regions were engaged during event retrieval relative to personal knowledge retrieval, and retrieval of specific event memories was associated with increased activity in the bilateral medial temporal lobe and dorsomedial prefrontal cortex relative to retrieval of general event memories. These results suggest that the initial search processes for memories of different specificity levels preferentially engage different components of the autobiographical memory network. The potential underlying causes of these neural differences are discussed.

Figure 1

Representation of memory phases in a) trials where participants identified only one level of memory and b) trials where participants retrieved memories that included multiple level of memory specificity. Note that in the current study, a button press of 3 indicates event specific memory and a button press of 1 indicates lifetime period memory.

Figure 2

Regions of activation (at p< .001, k ≥5) associated with retrieval of all autobiographical memories included: a) posterior cingulate (x=−10, y=−60, z=26) and ventromedial prefrontal cortex (x=−2, y=58, z=−10), and b) right parahippocampal gyrus (x=18, y=−24, z=−16).

Figure 3

Regions of activation (at p< .001, k ≥ 5) associated with retrieval of event specific and general event memories greater than lifetime period memories included: a) left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (x=−42, y=28, z=18) and b) dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (x=−4, y=8, z=56).

Figure 4

Regions of activation (at p< .001, k ≥5) associated with retrieval of event specific greater than general event memories included a) dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (x=−8, y=12, z=46), b) ventrolateral prefrontal cortex(x=−60, y=16, z=4), and c) bilateral medial temporal lobe (x=−22, y=−14, z=−30 and x=26, y=−6, z=−38).

Figure 5

Regions of activation (at p< .001, k ≥5) associated with a continual increase in specificity (event specific > general event > lifetime period) included: a) dorsolateral (x=−42, y=8, z=28) and b) dorsomedial (x=−6, y=10, z=52) prefrontal cortex.