Retrieval practice facilitates learning by strengthening processing in both the anterior and posterior hippocampus.
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INTRODUCTION AND METHODS: A large number of behavioral studies show that retrieval practice is a powerful way of strengthening learning of new information. Repeated retrieval might support long-term retention in a quantitative sense by inducing stronger episodic representations or in a qualitative sense by contributing to the formation of more gist-like representations. Here we used fMRI to examine the brain bases related to the learning effects following retrieval practice and provide imaging support for both views by showing increased activation of anterior and posterior hippocampus regions during a delayed memory test. RESULTS: Brain activity in the posterior hippocampus increased linearly as a function of number of successful retrievals during initial learning, whereas anterior hippocampus activity was restricted to items retrieved many but not few times during the learning phase. CONCLUSION: Taken together, these findings indicate that retrieval practice strengthens subsequent retention via "dual action" in the anterior and posterior hippocampus, possibly reflecting coding of individual experiences as well as integration and generalization across multiple experiences. Our findings are of educational significance by providing insight into the brain bases of a learning method of applied relevance.
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Retrieval practice increases hippocampal activity related to detailed and generalized memory representations one week after learning.
“Retrieval practice has also been found to increase hippocampal activity related to detailed and generalized memory representations 1 week after learning (Wiklund-Hörnqvist et al., 2020).”
From Retrieval Practice Is Effective Regardless of Self-Reported Need for Cognition - Behavioral and Brain Imaging Evidence (2022) · cites this paper as Wiklund-Hörnqvist et al., 2020
The Abstract (Introduction and Methods) reports increased anterior and posterior hippocampal activation during a delayed memory test, and the Discussion describes successful recall of information learned one week earlier. But the Discussion calls the link between those hippocampal responses and detailed or gist-like representations speculative; the citing sentence presents that interpretation without the qualification. No page numbers are available in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.85)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredRetrieval practice strengthens subsequent memory via a dual action of the hippocampus to support retrieval of detailed as well as generalized memory representations.
“In addition, it was recently suggested that retrieval practice strengthens subsequent memory via a dual action of the hippocampus to support retrieval of detailed as well as generalized memory representations (Wiklund-Hörnqvist et al., 2020).”
From Retrieval Practice Is Effective Regardless of Self-Reported Need for Cognition - Behavioral and Brain Imaging Evidence (2022) · cites this paper as Wiklund-Hörnqvist et al., 2020
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Wiklund-Hörnqvist, C., Stillesjö, S., Andersson, M., Jonsson, B., & Nyberg, L. (2022) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.797395 · Cited by 12 · see citing works
Self-citation
- Authors
- Wiklund‐Hörnqvist, C., Stillesjö, S., Andersson, M., Jonsson, B., & Nyberg, L.
- Affiliations
- Umeå University (SE)
- Corresponding author
- Wiklund‐Hörnqvist, Carola
- Venue
- Brain and Behavior
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2020-10-22
- Volume
- 11
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- e01909-e01909
- ISSN
- 2157-9032 (ISSN-L)
- 2162-3279
- PMC
- PMC7821628
- OpenAlex
- W3093562240
- Cited by
- 20
- References
- 45
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 1
- FWCI
- 1.75
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Brain and Behavior (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- DiVA at Umeå University (Umeå University) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Funders
- Vetenskapsrådet (2014-2099., 2016-07213)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory Processes and Influences
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory and Neural Mechanisms
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Functions and Memory
- Keywords
- retrieval practice, hippocampus, anterior hippocampus, posterior hippocampus, memory consolidation, long-term retention, episodic memory, delayed recall
- MeSH terms
- Brain, Brain Mapping, Hippocampus, Learning, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Mental Recall, Memory, Episodic
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