Episodic memory enhancement versus impairment is determined by contextual similarity across events.

ABSTRACT: For over a century, stability of spatial context across related episodes has been considered a source of memory interference, impairing memory retrieval. However, contemporary memory integration theory generates a diametrically opposite prediction. Here, we aimed to resolve this discrepancy by manipulating local context similarity across temporally disparate but related episodes and testing the direction and underlying mechanisms of memory change. A series of experiments show that contextual stability produces memory integration and marked reciprocal strengthening. Variable context, conversely, seemed to result in competition such that new memories become enhanced at the expense of original memories. Interestingly, these patterns were virtually inverted in an additional experiment where co

SUBMITTER: Cox WR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8640928 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature