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Dissociation of the neural correlates of implicit and explicit memory

Author

Listed:
  • Michael D. Rugg

    (Wellcome Brain Research Group, School of Psychology, University of St Andrews)

  • Ruth E. Mark

    (Wellcome Brain Research Group, School of Psychology, University of St Andrews)

  • Peter Walla

    (University of Vienna)

  • Astrid M. Schloerscheidt

    (Wellcome Brain Research Group, School of Psychology, University of St Andrews)

  • Claire S. Birch

    (Wellcome Brain Research Group, School of Psychology, University of St Andrews)

  • Kevin Allan

    (Wellcome Brain Research Group, School of Psychology, University of St Andrews)

Abstract

One presentation of a word to a subject is enough to change the way in which the word is processed subsequently, even when there is no conscious (explicit) memory of the original presentation. This phenomenon is known as implicit memory1,2,3. The neural correlates of implicit memory have been studied previously4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11, but they have never been compared with the correlates of explicit memory while holding task conditions constant or while using a procedure that ensured that the neural correlates were not ‘contaminated’ by explicit memory. Here we use scalp-recorded event-related brain potentials to identify neural activity associated with implicit and explicit memory during the performance of a recognition memory task. Relative to new words, recently studied words produced activity in three neuroanatomically and functionally dissociable neural populations. One of these populations was activated whether or not the word was consciously recognized, and its activity therefore represents a neural correlate of implicit memory. Thus, when task and memory contamination effects are eliminated, the neural correlates of explicit and implicit memory differ qualitatively.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael D. Rugg & Ruth E. Mark & Peter Walla & Astrid M. Schloerscheidt & Claire S. Birch & Kevin Allan, 1998. "Dissociation of the neural correlates of implicit and explicit memory," Nature, Nature, vol. 392(6676), pages 595-598, April.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:392:y:1998:i:6676:d:10.1038_33396
    DOI: 10.1038/33396
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    Cited by:

    1. Catherine A MacLeod & David I Donaldson, 2014. "PRKCA Polymorphism Changes the Neural Basis of Episodic Remembering in Healthy Individuals," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(5), pages 1-8, May.
    2. Samani, Amanda & Psouni, Elia, 2024. "Playing with the child within: Early parenthood experiences of parents who were out-of-home placed during childhood," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 160(C).
    3. Yangmei Luo & Todd Jackson & Xiaogang Wang & Xiting Huang, 2013. "Neural Correlates of Self-Appraisals in the Near and Distant Future: An Event-Related Potential Study," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(12), pages 1-6, December.

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