The Neural Mechanisms of Memory for Object Shape and Motion: Integrating Evidence from fMRI, ERPs, and TMS

有人假设记忆本质上是建构性的，来自不同大脑区域的特征或成分联合收割机组合在一起形成一个统一的记忆。与这个观点相一致的是，对物体或声音的记忆可以激活相应的视觉或听觉皮层处理区域。此外，用于特定类别的对象的存储器可以激活对应的处理区域（例如，用于面部的存储器可以激活面部处理区域）。然而，很少有证据表明记忆可以激活处理细节特征的区域，如物体的颜色，运动或形状，如果建构性记忆假设是正确的，这将是预期的。在美国国家科学基金会的支持下，斯科特·斯洛特尼克博士和他在波士顿学院的学生将研究记忆是否能激活这些特定的功能处理区域。特别地，将确定运动记忆是否可以激活运动处理区域以及形状记忆是否可以激活形状处理区域（以及这种活动是否是记忆所必需的）。经典的记忆相关的皮层区域，即，前额叶皮层和顶叶皮层的作用，也将被评估在功能处理区域的活动。本研究将通过整合功能性磁共振成像（fMRI）、识别皮层活动的精确空间位置、事件相关电位（ERP）源定位、识别皮层活动的精确时序以及经颅磁刺激（TMS），以确定感兴趣的皮层区域是否是记忆所必需的。这个项目将提供最令人信服的证据，建构性记忆假说虽然fMRI和ERP源定位或fMRI和TMS的组合已被用于研究视觉感知和注意力，但这些组合方法尚未用于研究记忆或其他认知功能。因此，开发进行这项研究的技术将作为未来认知神经科学研究的方法框架。该项目的资助还将通过研究生和本科生直接参与研究，以及为专注于认知神经科学方法的新课程提供基础，促进波士顿学院神经科学项目的发展。更广泛地说，该项目将评估记忆是否可以针对项目特征，这可以解释患者的某些类型的记忆丧失，也可能对法律产生影响（与目击者证词的细节水平有关）。

It has been hypothesized that memory is constructive in nature, where features or components from disparate brain regions combine to form a unified memory. Consistent with this view, it has been shown that memory for objects or sounds can activate the corresponding visual or auditory cortical processing regions. Furthermore, memory for specific categories of objects can activate the corresponding processing regions (e.g., memory for faces can activate face processing regions). However, there is little evidence that memory can activate regions that process detailed features, such as object color, motion, or shape, which would be expected if the constructive memory hypothesis is correct. Through support from the National Science Foundation, Dr. Scott Slotnick and his students at Boston College will investigate whether memory can activate such feature specific processing regions. In particular, it will be determined whether memory for motion can activate motion processing regions and whether memory for shape can activate shape processing regions (and whether such activity is essential for memory). The role of classic memory related cortical regions, namely, the prefrontal cortex and parietal cortex, will also be evaluated in relation to activity in feature processing regions. This research will be conducted by integrating functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), to identify the precise spatial location of cortical activity, event-related potential (ERP) source localization, to identify the precise timing of cortical activity, and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), to identify whether a cortical region of interest is necessary for memory.This project will provide the most compelling evidence bearing on the constructive memory hypothesis to date. While the combination of fMRI and ERP source localization or fMRI and TMS have been used to study visual perception and attention, these combined methodologies have not been used to study memory or other cognitive functions. As such, the techniques developed to conduct this research will serve as a methodological framework for future cognitive neuroscience studies. Funding of this project will also foster the growth of the neuroscience program at Boston College through direct participation of graduate and undergraduate students in the research, and by providing the basis for new courses that will focus on methods in cognitive neuroscience. More broadly, this project will assess whether memory can be specific for item features, which could explain certain types of memory loss in patients and could also have implications for law (relating to the level of detail in eyewitness testimony).