Memory deficits for implicit contextual information in amnesic subjects with hippocampal damage
Abstract
The role of the hippocampus and adjacent medial temporal lobe structures in memory systems has long been debated. Here we show in humans that these neural structures are important for encoding implicit contextual information from the environment. We used a contextual cuing task in which repeated visual context facilitates visual search for embedded target objects. An important feature of our task is that memory traces for contextual information were not accessible to conscious awareness, and hence could be classified as implicit. Amnesic patients with medial temporal system damage showed normal implicit perceptual/skill learning but were impaired on implicit contextual learning. Our results demonstrate that the human medial temporal memory system is important for learning contextual information, which requires the binding of multiple cues.
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Training procedural skills is not entirely detached from declarative memory mechanisms, especially at an initial stage of training.
“However, training such skills does not proceed entirely detached from declarative memory mechanisms, especially at an initial stage of training (e.g., Refs. 198, 533, 1013Refs. 198, 533, , 1014Refs. 198, 533, , 1042)).”
From About Sleep's Role in Memory (2013) · cites this paper as [198]
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- Authors
- Chun, M. M., & Phelps, E. A.
- Affiliations
- Yale University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Chun, Marvin M.
- Venue
- Nature Neuroscience
- Published
- 1999-09
- Volume
- 2
- Issue
- 9
- Pages
- 844-847
- ISSN
- 1097-6256 (ISSN-L)
- 1546-1726
- OpenAlex
- W2105173605
- Cited by
- 554
- References
- 40
- Citations by year
- 2026: 9 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 23 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 16 · 2020: 15 · 2019: 29 · 2018: 32 · 2017: 37 · 2016: 13 · 2015: 25 · 2014: 17 · 2013: 35 · 2012: 34
- FWCI
- 8.32
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Nature Neuroscience (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institutes of Health (5r29mh050812-05)
- National Institute of Mental Health (MH50812)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory and Neural Mechanisms
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory Processes and Influences
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Functions and Memory
- Keywords
- hippocampus, amnesia, medial temporal lobe, implicit memory, contextual learning, contextual cuing, visual search, memory impairment, perceptual learning, skill acquisition, conscious awareness
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Amnesia, Hypoxia, Discrimination, Psychological, Encephalitis, Hippocampus, Humans, Memory, Middle Aged, Pattern Recognition, Visual, Reference Values, Space Perception, Temporal Lobe, Tomography, X-Ray Computed
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