PreprintCited by 277Memory Processes and InfluencesCognitive Functions and MemoryMemory and Neural Mechanisms

Posterior parietal cortex and episodic retrieval: convergent and divergent effects of attention and memory

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Hutchinson, J. Benjamin, Uncapher, Melina R., Wagner, Anthony D.·2009·Learning & Memory

Abstract

Functional neuroimaging studies of humans engaged in retrieval from episodic memory have revealed a surprisingly consistent pattern of retrieval-related activity in lateral posterior parietal cortex (PPC). Given the well-established role of lateral PPC in subserving goal-directed and reflexive attention, it has been hypothesized that PPC activation during retrieval reflects the recruitment of parietal attention mechanisms during remembering. Here, we evaluate this hypothesis by considering the anatomical overlap of retrieval and attention effects in lateral PPC. We begin by briefly reviewing the literature implicating dorsal PPC in goal-directed attention and ventral PPC in reflexive attention. We then discuss the pattern of dorsal and ventral PPC activation during episodic retrieval, and conclude with consideration of the degree of anatomical convergence across the two domains. This assessment revealed that predominantly divergent subregions of lateral PPC are engaged during acts of episodic retrieval and during goal-directed and reflexive attention, suggesting that PPC retrieval effects reflect functionally distinct mechanisms from these forms of attention. Although attention must play a role in aspects of retrieval, the data reviewed here suggest that further investigation into the relationship between processes of attention and memory, as well as alternative accounts of PPC contributions to retrieval, is warranted.

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  • Posterior parietal cortex activations have consistently been observed during episodic retrieval tasks.

    “Posterior parietal cortex activations have consistently been observed during episodic retrieval tasks (Hutchinson et al., 2009; Myskiw and Izquierdo, 2012).”

    From Neural Correlates of Long-Term Memory Enhancement Following Retrieval Practice (2021) · cites this paper as Hutchinson et al., 2009

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  1. Ranganath C, Knight RT. 2002. Prefrontal cortex and episodic memory: Integrating findings from neuropsychology and functional brain imaging. In The cognitive neuroscience of memory: Encoding and retrieval (eds. A Parker et al.), pp. 83-99. Psychology Press, New York.

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Authors
Hutchinson, J. B., Uncapher, M. R., & Wagner, A. D.
Affiliations
Stanford University (US)
Venue
Learning & Memory
Published
2009-05-26
Volume
16
Issue
6
Pages
343-356
ISSN
  • 1072-0502 (ISSN-L)
  • 1549-5485
OpenAlex
W2094516509
Cited by
277
References
200
Citations by year
2026: 7 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 16 · 2020: 16 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 16 · 2017: 19 · 2016: 16 · 2015: 21 · 2014: 26 · 2013: 29 · 2012: 32
Type
posted content
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Learning & Memory (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • Alfred P. Sloan Foundation
  • National Institutes of Health (5r01mh080309-04)
  • National Institute of Mental Health (R01-MH080309, 5R01MH080309, R01MH076932)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory Processes and Influences
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Functions and Memory
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory and Neural Mechanisms
Keywords
posterior parietal cortex, episodic memory retrieval, top-down attention, reflexive attention, dorsal parietal cortex
MeSH terms
Animals, Attention, Brain Mapping, Discrimination Learning, Humans, Memory, Parietal Lobe

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