During the past year we have continued to focus on two main themes concerning the functional neuroanatomy of memory. The first theme concerns semantic memory, the part of long-term memory composed of general information, such as facts, ideas, and the meaning of objects and words. We are particularly interested in characterizing the neural substrate mediating object and word meaning and its role in object perception. We are also interested in understanding how abstract knowledge, such as information about social interactions, is represented. Our studies have shown that information about salient properties of an object - such as what it looks like, how it moves, and how it is used - is stored in the sensory and motor systems active when objects are perceived and manipulated. As a result, objects belonging to different categories such as animate entities (people, animals) and manmade manipulable objects (tools, utensils) are represented in partially distinct neural circuits. These circuits may also underpin our ability to understand more abstract events such as social and mechanical interactions. Building on these findings, investigations are underway to evaluate the integrity of these neural circuits in subjects with development disorders of social understanding and communication (autism spectrum disorders).? ? The second theme focuses on an implicit or non-conscious memory phenomenon - repetition priming - as a model system for evaluating learning and neural plasticity. Our investigations show that this powerful form of learning is extremely long lasting and impervious to aging. We are also investigating the neural mechanism underpinning this form of learning - referred to as repetition suppression in pre- and post-operative studies of patients who have undergone surgical removal of the anterior regions of the left or right temporal lobe for the relief of intractable epilepsy. Our preliminary findings suggest that repetition suppression is dependent on signals originating from more anterior regions of temporal and/or frontal lobes.
| Bellgowan, Patrick S F; Buffalo, Elizabeth A; Bodurka, Jerzy et al. (2009) Lateralized spatial and object memory encoding in entorhinal and perirhinal cortices. Learn Mem 16:433-8 |
| Simmons, W Kyle; Reddish, Mark; Bellgowan, Patrick S F et al. (2009) The Selectivity and Functional Connectivity of the Anterior Temporal Lobes. Cereb Cortex : |
| Mahon, Bradford Z; Milleville, Shawn C; Negri, Gioia A L et al. (2007) Action-related properties shape object representations in the ventral stream. Neuron 55:507-20 |
| Wheatley, Thalia; Milleville, Shawn C; Martin, Alex (2007) Understanding animate agents: distinct roles for the social network and mirror system. Psychol Sci 18:469-74 |
| Simmons, W Kyle; Bellgowan, Patrick S F; Martin, Alex (2007) Measuring selectivity in fMRI data. Nat Neurosci 10:4-5 |
| Simmons, W Kyle; Ramjee, Vimal; Beauchamp, Michael S et al. (2007) A common neural substrate for perceiving and knowing about color. Neuropsychologia 45:2802-10 |
| Martin, Alex (2007) The representation of object concepts in the brain. Annu Rev Psychol 58:25-45 |
| Weisberg, Jill; van Turennout, Miranda; Martin, Alex (2007) A neural system for learning about object function. Cereb Cortex 17:513-21 |
| Buffalo, Elizabeth A; Bellgowan, Patrick S F; Martin, Alex (2006) Distinct roles for medial temporal lobe structures in memory for objects and their locations. Learn Mem 13:638-43 |
| Luo, Qian; Nakic, Marina; Wheatley, Thalia et al. (2006) The neural basis of implicit moral attitude--an IAT study using event-related fMRI. Neuroimage 30:1449-57 |
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