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Sex differences in the context dependency of episodic memory.

ABSTRACT: Context contributes to multiple aspects of human episodic memory including segmentation and retrieval. The present studies tested if, in adult male and female mice, context influences the encoding of odors encountered in a single unsupervised sampling session of the type used for the routine acquisition of episodic memories. The three paradigms used differed in complexity (single vs. multiple odor cues) and period from sampling to testing. Results show that males consistently encode odors in a context-dependent manner: the mice discriminated novel from previously sampled cues when tested in the chamber of initial cue sampling but not in a distinct yet familiar chamber. This was independent of the interval between cue encounters or the latency from initial sampling to testing. In contrast, female mice acquired both single cues and the elements of multi-cue episodes, but recall of that information was dependent upon the surrounding context only when the cues were presented serially. These results extend the list of episodic memory features expressed by rodents and also introduce a striking and unexpected sex difference in context effects.

SUBMITTER: Le AA

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10956361 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Sex differences in the context dependency of episodic memory.

Le Aliza A AA Palmer Linda C LC Chavez Jasmine J Gall Christine M CM Lynch Gary G

Frontiers in behavioral neuroscience 20240301

Context contributes to multiple aspects of human episodic memory including segmentation and retrieval. The present studies tested if, in adult male and female mice, context influences the encoding of odors encountered in a single unsupervised sampling session of the type used for the routine acquisition of episodic memories. The three paradigms used differed in complexity (single vs. multiple odor cues) and period from sampling to testing. Results show that males consistently encode odors in a c ...[more]

PMID: 38516050

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Project description:OBJECTIVEFew have characterized cognitive changes with age as a function of menopausal stage relative to men, or sex differences in components of memory in early midlife. The study aim was to investigate variation in memory function in early midlife as a function of sex, sex steroid hormones, and reproductive status.METHODSA total of 212 men and women aged 45 to 55 were selected for this cross-sectional study from a prenatal cohort of pregnancies whose mothers were originally recruited in 1959 to 1966. They underwent clinical and cognitive testing and hormonal assessments of menopause status. Multivariate general linear models for multiple memory outcomes were used to test hypotheses controlling for potential confounders. Episodic memory, executive function, semantic processing, and estimated verbal intelligence were assessed. Associative memory and episodic verbal memory were assessed using Face-Name Associative Memory Exam (FNAME) and Selective Reminding Test (SRT), given increased sensitivity to detecting early cognitive decline. Impacts of sex and reproductive stage on performance were tested.RESULTSWomen outperformed men on all memory measures including FNAME (??=?-0.30, P < 0.0001) and SRT (??=?-0.29, P?<?0.0001). Furthermore, premenopausal and perimenopausal women outperformed postmenopausal women on FNAME (initial learning, ?= 0.32, P?=?0.01) and SRT (recall, ?= 2.39, P?=?0.02). Across all women, higher estradiol was associated with better SRT performance (recall, ??=?1.96, P?=?0.01) and marginally associated with FNAME (initial learning, ??=?0.19, P?=?0.06).CONCLUSIONSThis study demonstrated that, in early midlife, women outperformed age-matched men across all memory measures, but sex differences were attenuated for postmenopausal women. Initial learning and memory retrieval were particularly vulnerable, whereas memory consolidation and storage were preserved. Findings underscore the significance of the decline in ovarian estradiol production in midlife and its role in shaping memory function.

Dataset Information

Sex differences in the context dependency of episodic memory.

Publications

Sex differences in the context dependency of episodic memory.

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