Journal article
Ventromedial Prefrontal Cortex Is Necessary for Normal Associative Inference and Memory Integration
The Journal of neuroscience, Vol.38(15), pp.3767-3775
04/11/2018
DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2501-17.2018
PMCID: PMC5895999
PMID: 29555854
Abstract
The ability to flexibly combine existing knowledge in response to novel circumstances is highly adaptive. However, the neural correlates of flexible associative inference are not well characterized. Laboratory tests of associative inference have measured memory for overlapping pairs of studied items (e.g., AB, BC) and for nonstudied pairs with common associates (i.e., AC). Findings from functional neuroimaging and neuropsychology suggest the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) may be necessary for associative inference. Here, we used a neuropsychological approach to test the necessity of vmPFC for successful memory-guided associative inference in humans using an overlapping pairs associative memory task. We predicted that individuals with focal vmPFC damage (
= 5; 3F, 2M) would show impaired inferential memory but intact non-inferential memory. Performance was compared with normal comparison participants (
= 10; 6F, 4M). Participants studied pairs of visually presented objects including overlapping pairs (AB, BC) and nonoverlapping pairs (XY). Participants later completed a three-alternative forced-choice recognition task for studied pairs (AB, BC, XY) and inference pairs (AC). As predicted, the vmPFC group had intact memory for studied pairs but significantly impaired memory for inferential pairs. These results are consistent with the perspective that the vmPFC is necessary for memory-guided associative inference, indicating that the vmPFC is critical for adaptive abilities that require application of existing knowledge to novel circumstances. Additionally, vmPFC damage was associated with unexpectedly reduced memory for AB pairs post-inference, which could potentially reflect retroactive interference. Together, these results reinforce an emerging understanding of a role for the vmPFC in brain networks supporting associative memory processes.
We live in a constantly changing environment, so the ability to adapt our knowledge to support understanding of new circumstances is essential. One important adaptive ability is
which allows us to extract shared features from distinct experiences and relate them. For example, if we see a woman holding a baby, and later see a man holding the same baby, then we might infer that the two adults are a couple. Despite the importance of associative inference, the brain systems necessary for this ability are not known. Here, we report that damage to human ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) disproportionately impairs associative inference. Our findings show the necessity of the vmPFC for normal associative inference and memory integration.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Ventromedial Prefrontal Cortex Is Necessary for Normal Associative Inference and Memory Integration
- Creators
- Kelsey N Spalding - Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IowaMargaret L Schlichting - Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G3, CanadaDagmar Zeithamova - Department of Psychology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OregonAlison R Preston - Departments of Psychology and Neuroscience, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TexasDaniel Tranel - Department of Neurology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IowaMelissa C Duff - Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, andDavid E Warren - Department of Neurology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- The Journal of neuroscience, Vol.38(15), pp.3767-3775
- Publisher
- United States
- DOI
- 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2501-17.2018
- PMID
- 29555854
- PMCID
- PMC5895999
- ISSN
- 0270-6474
- eISSN
- 1529-2401
- Grant note
- R01 MH100121 / NIMH NIH HHS
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 04/11/2018
- Academic Unit
- Neurology; Psychological and Brain Sciences; Iowa Neuroscience Institute
- Record Identifier
- 9984070607102771
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