The development and neural bases of pattern separation and relational memory

项目摘要/摘要 情节记忆在人类认知功能和整体人生成功中起着不可或缺的作用。因此， 情节记忆的正确出现是典型发展的关键部分。童年早期标志着一种 情景记忆增长最大的时间窗口。该项目的目标是确定 刻画了情景记忆的成分认知过程，以及它们之间的关系 记忆神经网络的发展轨迹和结构连通性 年幼的孩子。为实现这一目标，提出了三项具有具体、可实现目标的研究。 [首先，我们将研究模式分离和关系记忆--两者都被理论认为是 情景记忆的基石过程--在一项任务中评估它们对情景记忆的相对贡献 记忆力的发展。其次，我们通过考察两个过程的发展变化来整合这两个过程 作为对上下文的模式分离需求的功能的关系记忆。]第三，我们将讲述插曲 大脑相关区域之间结构连接的年龄相关差异对记忆的改善 在情节记忆中。我们假设模式分离以及关系记忆的发展 随着年龄的增长有显著差异，并将解释情节记忆表现的独特差异。我们也 假设在这个年龄窗口中情节记忆的增长伴随着年龄相关 记忆神经网络结构连通性的差异。该项目将有助于向 通过针对涉及的适当组成部分的认知过程进行预防和干预 各种身体和精神健康状况，在这种情况下，情节记忆受到损害。

Project Summary / Abstract Episodic memory plays an integral role in human cognitive functioning and overall life success. Thus, proper emergence of episodic memory is a crucial part of typical development. Early childhood marks a time window in which gains in episodic memory are greatest. The goal of this project is to identify and characterize the component cognitive processes of episodic memory, their relative developmental trajectories, and the structural connectivity of memory neural network in young children. In service of this goal, three studies with specific, achievable objectives are proposed. [First, we will examine pattern separation and relational memory – both have been theorized to be cornerstone processes of episodic memory – in one task to assess their relative contribution to episodic memory development. Second, we integrate both processes by examining the developmental changes of relational memory as a function of pattern separation demand for contexts.] Third, we will relate episodic memory improvements to age-related differences in brain structural connectivity between regions involved in episodic memory. We hypothesize that pattern separation as well as relational memory develops significantly with age and will account for unique variances in episodic memory performance. We also hypothesize that gains in episodic memory during this age window is accompanied by age-related differences in the structural connectivity of memory neural network. This project will help inform prevention and intervention by targeting the appropriate component cognitive processes involved in various physical and mental health conditions in which episodic memory is compromised.