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Memory in the aging brain: Doubly dissociating the contribution of the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex
Author(s) -
Yonelinas Andrew P.,
Widaman Keith,
Mungas Dan,
Reed Bruce,
Weiner Michael W.,
Chui Helena C.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
hippocampus
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.767
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 1098-1063
pISSN - 1050-9631
DOI - 10.1002/hipo.20341
Subject(s) - entorhinal cortex , psychology , hippocampal formation , neuroscience , recall , hippocampus , temporal lobe , episodic memory , dissociation (chemistry) , recognition memory , neuropsychology , subiculum , cognitive psychology , cognition , dentate gyrus , chemistry , epilepsy
Since the time of Aristotle it has been thought that memories can be divided into two basic types; conscious recollections and familiarity‐based judgments. Neuropsychological studies have provided indirect support for this distinction by suggesting that different regions within the human medial temporal lobe (MTL) are involved in these two forms of memory, but none of these studies have demonstrated that these brain regions can be fully dissociated. In a group of nondemented elderly subjects, we found that performance on recall and recognition tests was predicted preferentially by hippocampal and entorhinal volumes, respectively. Structural equation modeling revealed a double dissociation, whereby age‐related reductions in hippocampal volume resulted in decreases in recollection, but not familiarity, whereas entorhinal volume was preferentially related to familiarity. The results demonstrate that the forms of episodic memory supported by the human hippocampus and entorhinal cortex can be fully dissociated, and indicate that recollection and familiarity reflect neuroanatomically distinct memory processes. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.