Causal neural network of metamemory for retrospection in primates
Abstract
Are you aware how well you remember?: Self-monitoring and evaluation of our own memory is a mental process called metamemory. For metamemory, we need access to information about the strength of our own memory traces. The brain structures and neural mechanisms involved in metamemory are completely unknown. Miyamoto et al. devised a test paradigm for metamemory in macaques, in which the monkeys judged their own confidence in remembering past experiences. The authors combined this approach with functional brain imaging to reveal the neural substrates of metamemory for retrospection. A specific region in the prefrontal brain was essential for meta mnemonic decision-making. Inactivation of this region caused selective impairment of metamemory, but not of memory itself. Science , this issue p. 188
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Meta-memory is associated with prefrontal structures whose pharmacological inactivation leads to a metacognitive impairment while sparing memory performance itself.
“Meta-memory is associated with prefrontal structures whose pharmacological inactivation leads to a metacognitive impairment while sparing memory performance itself ( 56 ).”
From What is consciousness, and could machines have it? (2017) · cites this paper as [56]
Inactivation of the prefrontal cortex can induce a specific deficit in second-order (metacognitive) judgements while sparing performance on the first-order task.
“Inactivation of the prefrontal cortex can induce a specific deficit in second-order (metacognitive) judgements while sparing performance on the first-order task ( 56 , 58 ).”
From What is consciousness, and could machines have it? (2017) · cites this paper as [56]
MRI studies in humans and physiological recordings in primates and rats have linked confidence processing to the prefrontal cortex.
“Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies in humans and physiological recordings in primates and even in rats have specifically linked such confidence processing to the prefrontal cortex ( 55 -57 ).”
From What is consciousness, and could machines have it? (2017) · cites this paper as [56]
Changes in confidence formation and metacognition (but not first-order task performance) are observed following temporary disruption or lesions to rostrolateral prefrontal cortex (Brodmann areas 46 and 10) in humans and monkeys.
“Changes in confidence formation and metacognition (but not first-order task performance) are observed following temporary disruption or lesions to rostrolateral prefrontal cortex (Brodmann areas 46 and 10) in humans and monkeys (Fleming et al. 2014;Kwok et al. 2019;Miyamoto et al. 2017Miyamoto et al. , 2018;;Shekhar & Rahnev 2018)”
From Metacognition and Confidence: A Review and Synthesis (2024) · cites this paper as Miyamoto et al. 2017
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- Authors
- Miyamoto, K., Osada, T., Setsuie, R., Takeda, M., Tamura, K., Adachi, Y., & Miyashita, Y.
- Affiliations
- The University of Tokyo (JP)
- Juntendo University (JP)
- Corresponding author
- Setsuie, Rieko
- Takeda, Masaki
- Miyashita, Yasushi
- ORCID
- Venue
- Science
- Published
- 2017-01-13
- Volume
- 355
- Issue
- 6321
- Pages
- 188-193
- ISSN
- 0036-8075 (ISSN-L)
- 1095-9203
- OpenAlex
- W2574976425
- Cited by
- 106
- References
- 54
- Citations by year
- 2026: 7 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 18 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 6
- FWCI
- 5.97
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Science (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
- Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (16K21042, 16H01281, 24220008, 14J05926, 16K18367)
- 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
- metamemory, prefrontal cortex, area 6, remote memory, recent memory, reversible inactivation, recognition memory, neural correlates, macaque
- MeSH terms
- Metacognition, Animals, Brain, Female, Judgment, Macaca, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Memory, Short-Term, Nerve Net, Mental Recall, Recognition, Psychology, Neuroimaging
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