Dual-process theories or recognition posit that participants can recognize a stimulus as having been studied earlier because 1) the stimulus seems familiar, or 2) they recollect specific details pertaining to that stimulus; recent neuropsychological evidence suggests that familiarity and recollection are subserved by distinct brain structures (rhinal neocortex and the hippocampus, respectively). The goal of the proposed research is to: 1) use neural network models to explain how neocortex implements familiarity, and how the hippocampus implements recollection; and 2) test these models predictions regarding recognition performance in normal subjects and subjects with focal hippocampal damage. The first specific aim is to establish, using simulations and experiments, key qualitative differences between neocortical and hippocampal contributions to recognition (e.g., I will explore the idea that increasing the similarity of lures to studied items impairs neocortically-driven recognition performance more that hippocampally-driven recognition performance). The second specific aim is to integrate the neocortical and hippocampal models, and use the combined model to: 1) precisely account for recognition data when both processes are contributing to recognition; and 2) explore the relationship between familiarity and recollection (e.g., are they independent). Extant formal models of recognition do not make contact with the underlying neurobiology as such, the proposed research constitutes a major step forward in recognition memory modeling. More practically, this research will improve our understanding of preserved memory capacities in brain-damaged patients; this, in turn, should benefit rehabilitation of these patients.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Postdoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F32)
Project #
5F32MH012582-03
Application #
6499222
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-BBBP-4 (01))
Program Officer
Curvey, Mary F
Project Start
2002-02-01
Project End
Budget Start
2002-02-01
Budget End
2003-01-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2002
Total Cost
$46,192
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Colorado at Boulder
Department
Psychology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
City
Boulder
State
CO
Country
United States
Zip Code
80309