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Abstract:
Not only do our memories shape how we perceive and interact with the world, they themselves
are influenced by many factors, both internal and external. Innovative experimental designs,
analysis approaches and human neuroimaging methods allow us to investigate the dynamics
of how memory representations evolve and change in bilateral interaction with other cognitive
and physiological processes. In this symposium, we present data from five labs, each focusing
on different modulators of internal representations. We will first highlight physiological
determinants of hippocampal function in ageing, based on data from various neuroimaging
modalities. To these ends, we will show how differences in hippocampal vascularization
patterns impact memory and cognitive functioning. Moreover, we will present data showing
that Alzheimer’s disease pathology differentially affects object and scene memory. Secondly,
we will discuss how episodic simulation can shape real-life attitudes: mentally associating
existing memory representations can lead to a transfer of affective valence to a previously
neutral stimulus, resulting in both behavioral and physiological changes. Finally, we will focus
on cognitive factors that support the emergence of neocortical memory representations. A
first contribution leverages multivariate pattern analysis to show how the neocortex is able to
rapidly acquire content-specific representations through repeated rehearsal. We will also
present data on how sleep supports neocortical memory formation by shifting subcortical
contributions to mnemonic processing during retrieval.
