Episodic memory enhancement versus impairment is determined by contextual similarity across events

Wouter R. Cox, Simone Dobbelaar, Martijn Meeter, Merel Kindt, Vanessa A. van Ast

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Abstract

For over a century, stability of spatial context across related episodes has been considered a source of memory interference, impairing memory retrieval. However, contemporary memory integration theory generates a diametrically opposite prediction. Here, we aimed to resolve this discrepancy by manipulating local context similarity across temporally disparate but related episodes and testing the direction and underlying mechanisms of memory change. A series of experiments show that contextual stability produces memory integration and marked reciprocal strengthening. Variable context, conversely, seemed to result in competition such that new memories become enhanced at the expense of original memories. Interestingly, these patterns were virtually inverted in an additional experiment where context was reinstated during recall. These observations 1) identify contextual similarity across original and new memories as an important determinant in the volatility of memory, 2) present a challenge to classic and modern theories on episodic memory change, and 3) indicate that the sensitivity of context-induced memory changes to retrieval conditions may reconcile paradoxical predictions of interference and integration theory.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere2101509118
Pages (from-to)1-9
Number of pages9
JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume118
Issue number48
Early online date24 Nov 2021
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 30 Nov 2021

Funding

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. The authors thank Heleen Bes, Lara Bridge, Nikki Evers, and Allerd Reitsma for help with data collection; Raoul Grasman for statistical advice on the multilevel logistic analysis; Bert Molenkamp for technical assistance; and the anonymous reviewers for their thoughtful comments. This work was supported by Research Talent Grant 406-16-557 (to W.R.C. and M.K.) and Veni Grant 451-16-021 (to V.A.v.A.) from the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research. M.K. is supported by a European Research Council Advanced Grant 743263.

FundersFunder number
European Research Council743263
Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek

    Keywords

    • episodic memory
    • integration
    • interference
    • reconsolidation
    • spatial context

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