Temporal asymmetry of neural pattern similarity predicts recognition memory decisions
Abstract A stimulus can be familiar for multiple reasons. It might have been recently encountered, is similar to recent experience, or is similar to ‘typical’ experience. Understanding how the brain translates these sources of similarity into memory decisions is a fundamental, but challenging goal....
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Communications Biology |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-08569-9 |
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| _version_ | 1849761412110352384 |
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| author | Zhifang Ye Yufei Zhao Emily J. Allen Thomas Naselaris Kendrick Kay J. Benjamin Hutchinson Brice A. Kuhl |
| author_facet | Zhifang Ye Yufei Zhao Emily J. Allen Thomas Naselaris Kendrick Kay J. Benjamin Hutchinson Brice A. Kuhl |
| author_sort | Zhifang Ye |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract A stimulus can be familiar for multiple reasons. It might have been recently encountered, is similar to recent experience, or is similar to ‘typical’ experience. Understanding how the brain translates these sources of similarity into memory decisions is a fundamental, but challenging goal. Here, using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), we computed neural similarity between a current stimulus and events from different temporal windows in the past and future (from seconds to days). We show that trial-by-trial recognition memory decisions (is this stimulus ‘old’?) were predicted by the difference in similarity to past vs. future events (temporal asymmetry). This relationship was (i) evident in lateral parietal and occipitotemporal cortices, (ii) strongest when considering events from the recent past (minutes ago), and (iii) most pronounced when veridical (true) memories were weak. These findings elucidate how the brain evaluates past experience in service of making recognition memory decisions. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e78c28d3e3364ff0a9e18728fc14120c |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2399-3642 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Communications Biology |
| spelling | doaj-art-e78c28d3e3364ff0a9e18728fc14120c2025-08-20T03:06:01ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Biology2399-36422025-07-018111110.1038/s42003-025-08569-9Temporal asymmetry of neural pattern similarity predicts recognition memory decisionsZhifang Ye0Yufei Zhao1Emily J. Allen2Thomas Naselaris3Kendrick Kay4J. Benjamin Hutchinson5Brice A. Kuhl6Department of Psychology, University of OregonDepartment of Psychology, University of OregonDepartment of Psychology, University of MinnesotaDepartment of Radiology, Center for Magnetic Resonance Research (CMRR), University of MinnesotaDepartment of Radiology, Center for Magnetic Resonance Research (CMRR), University of MinnesotaDepartment of Psychology, University of OregonDepartment of Psychology, University of OregonAbstract A stimulus can be familiar for multiple reasons. It might have been recently encountered, is similar to recent experience, or is similar to ‘typical’ experience. Understanding how the brain translates these sources of similarity into memory decisions is a fundamental, but challenging goal. Here, using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), we computed neural similarity between a current stimulus and events from different temporal windows in the past and future (from seconds to days). We show that trial-by-trial recognition memory decisions (is this stimulus ‘old’?) were predicted by the difference in similarity to past vs. future events (temporal asymmetry). This relationship was (i) evident in lateral parietal and occipitotemporal cortices, (ii) strongest when considering events from the recent past (minutes ago), and (iii) most pronounced when veridical (true) memories were weak. These findings elucidate how the brain evaluates past experience in service of making recognition memory decisions.https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-08569-9 |
| spellingShingle | Zhifang Ye Yufei Zhao Emily J. Allen Thomas Naselaris Kendrick Kay J. Benjamin Hutchinson Brice A. Kuhl Temporal asymmetry of neural pattern similarity predicts recognition memory decisions Communications Biology |
| title | Temporal asymmetry of neural pattern similarity predicts recognition memory decisions |
| title_full | Temporal asymmetry of neural pattern similarity predicts recognition memory decisions |
| title_fullStr | Temporal asymmetry of neural pattern similarity predicts recognition memory decisions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Temporal asymmetry of neural pattern similarity predicts recognition memory decisions |
| title_short | Temporal asymmetry of neural pattern similarity predicts recognition memory decisions |
| title_sort | temporal asymmetry of neural pattern similarity predicts recognition memory decisions |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-08569-9 |
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