Open AccessControl of semantic interference in episodic memory retrieval is associated with an anterior cingulate‐prefrontal activation pattern
Author(s) -
Herrmann Manfred,
Rotte Michael,
Grubich Claudia,
Ebert Anne D.,
Schiltz Kolja,
Münte Thomas F.,
Heinze Hans Jochen
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
human brain mapping
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.005
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1097-0193
pISSN - 1065-9471
DOI - 10.1002/hbm.1027
Subject(s) - psychology , episodic memory , semantic memory , context (archaeology) , prefrontal cortex , cognitive psychology , interference theory , working memory , noun , neuroscience , cognition , computer science , artificial intelligence , paleontology , biology
Prefrontal activation is a consistent finding in functional neuroimaging studies of episodic memory retrieval. In the present study we aimed at a further analysis of prefrontal neural systems involved in the executive control of context‐specific properties in episodic memory retrieval using an event‐related fMRI design. Nine subjects were asked to learn two 20‐item word lists that consisted of concrete nouns assigned to four semantic categories. Ten items of both word lists referred to the same semantic category. Subjects were instructed to determine whether nouns displayed in random order corresponded to the first 20‐item target list. The interference evoked by the retrieval of semantically related items of the second list resulted in significantly longer reaction times compared to the noninterference condition. Contrasting the interference against the noninterference retrieval condition demonstrated an activation pattern that comprised a right anterior cingulate and frontal opercular area and a left‐lateralized dorsolateral prefrontal region. Trial averaged time series revealed that the PFC areas were selectively activated at the interference condition and did not respond to the familiarity of learned words. These findings suggest a functionally separable role of prefrontal cortical areas mediating processes associated with the executive control of interfering context information in episodic memory retrieval. Hum. Brain Mapping 13:94–103, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.