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Cited by 85Memory Processes and InfluencesNeurobiology of Language and BilingualismMemory and Neural Mechanisms

Neural correlates of testing effects in vocabulary learning

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van den Broek, Gesa S.E., Takashima, Atsuko, Segers, Eliane, Fernández, Guillén, Verhoeven, Ludo·2013·NeuroImage
DOI 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2013.03.071
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Abstract

Tests that require memory retrieval strongly improve long-term retention in comparison to continued studying. For example, once learners know the translation of a word, restudy practice, during which they see the word and its translation again, is less effective than testing practice, during which they see only the word and retrieve the translation from memory. In the present functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study, we investigated the neuro-cognitive mechanisms underlying this striking testing effect. Twenty-six young adults without prior knowledge of Swahili learned the translation of 100 Swahili words and then further practiced the words in an fMRI scanner by restudying or by testing. Recall of the translations on a final memory test after one week was significantly better and faster for tested words than for restudied words. Brain regions that were more active during testing than during restudying included the left inferior frontal gyrus, ventral striatum, and midbrain areas. Increased activity in the left inferior parietal and left middle temporal areas during testing but not during restudying predicted better recall on the final memory test. Together, results suggest that testing may be more beneficial than restudying due to processes related to targeted semantic elaboration and selective strengthening of associations between retrieval cues and relevant responses, and may involve increased effortful cognitive control and modulations of memory through striatal motivation and reward circuits.

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  • Parietal cortex activations during the encoding of test-effect paradigms have consistently been correlated with successful long-term retention.

    “Parietal cortex activations during the encoding of test-effect paradigms have consistently been correlated with successful long-term retention (Eriksson et al., 2011; Nelson et al., 2013; Van den Broek et al., 2013; Wing et al., 2013; Keresztes et al., 2014; Liu et al., 2014;”

    From Neural Correlates of Long-Term Memory Enhancement Following Retrieval Practice (2021) · cites this paper as Van den Broek et al., 2013

  • Activations in the basal ganglia have also been observed during encoding.

    “Activations in the basal ganglia have also been observed during encoding (Van den Broek et al., 2013).”

    From Neural Correlates of Long-Term Memory Enhancement Following Retrieval Practice (2021) · cites this paper as Van den Broek et al., 2013

  • Activations in the anterior cingulate cortex, middle temporal gyri, anterior hippocampus, lateral temporal neocortex, and medial prefrontal cortex have all been related to encoding differences in individuals who practiced both study and retrieval vs. repeated study only.

    “Activations in the anterior cingulate cortex (Eriksson et al., 2011), middle temporal gyri (Van den Broek et al., 2013), anterior hippocampus, lateral temporal neocortex, and medial prefrontal cortex (Wing et al., 2013) have all been related to encoding differences in individuals who practiced both study and retrieval vs. repeated study only.”

    From Neural Correlates of Long-Term Memory Enhancement Following Retrieval Practice (2021) · cites this paper as Van den Broek et al., 2013

  • Studies examining the encoding phase of test-effect paradigms have demonstrated that the long-term retention advantage attributed to retrieval practice is based on the enhancement of cognitive processes that involve both memory successes at encoding and at retrieval.

    “Studies examining the encoding phase of test-effect paradigms have demonstrated that the long-term retention advantage attributed to retrieval practice is based on the enhancement of cognitive processes that involve both memory successes at encoding (i.e., strengthening associations between cues and responses) and at retrieval (i.e., memory search processes).”

    From Neural Correlates of Long-Term Memory Enhancement Following Retrieval Practice (2021) · cites this paper as Van den Broek et al., 2013

  • This is consistent with observed activation differences in the basal ganglia using a similar task during encoding.

    “This is consistent with observed activation differences in the basal ganglia using a similar task during encoding (Van den Broek et al., 2013).”

    From Neural Correlates of Long-Term Memory Enhancement Following Retrieval Practice (2021) · cites this paper as Van den Broek et al., 2013

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Authors
van den Broek, G. S. E., Takashima, A., Segers, E., Fernández, G., & Verhoeven, L.
Affiliations
Radboud University Nijmegen (NL)
ORCID
Venue
NeuroImage
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2013-09
Volume
78
Pages
94-102
ISSN
1053-8119 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.neuroimage.2013.03.071
OpenAlex
W1977770262
Cited by
85
References
56
Citations by year
2026: 7 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 3
FWCI
3.46
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • NeuroImage (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-sa)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Radboud Repository (Radboud University) (submittedVersion)
  • Radboud Repository (Radboud University) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
Funders
  • National Initiative Brain & Cognition
  • Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (056-33-014)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory Processes and Influences
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neurobiology of Language and Bilingualism
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory and Neural Mechanisms
Keywords
testing effect, vocabulary acquisition, memory retention, memory retrieval, Swahili translation, left inferior frontal gyrus, ventral striatum, midbrain, cognitive control, semantic elaboration, reward systems
MeSH terms
Brain, Brain Mapping, Female, Humans, Image Processing, Computer-Assisted, Learning, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Memory, Vocabulary, Young Adult

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