Episodic memory and prior knowledge: Neural correlates and developmental trends
Yee Lee Shing
Institute of Psychology
Goethe University Frankfurt
Investigating the beneficial effects of prior knowledge on memory is an important topic in cognitive neuroscience. The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) has been shown to be involved in the encoding of new information that is congruent to a pre-existing schema and supports its retrieval, potentially by biasing the processing of the hippocampus (HC). In my talk, I will present two lines of work related to episodic memory and prior knowledge. First, I will present a study that examined changes in knowledge and its effects on neural network that are associated with successful memory formation, leading to a discussion on the exact role of mPFC for memory. Second, I will present a study that examined how one year of schooling affects neurocognitive development in first grade children, with a focus on neural correlates of episodic memory. Findings across both lines of work highlight close links between knowledge acquired in real-world contexts and basic neurocognitive processes that establish durable memories.
Date: 14 June 2018
Time: 16.00 – 17.00
Drinks: 17.00-18.00
Location: Science Building (W&N-gebouw) -C623