Functional MRI Evidence for Distinctive Binding and Consolidation Pathways for Face-Name Associations

Abstract

Objective To determine common and distinctive brain activation patterns associated with encoding and recognition of face-name associations and identify the neural structures with BOLD amplitude differences specific to binding and memory consolidation processes. Methods Five healthy adult participants viewed face-name pairs during the encoding phase and completed the multiple choice recognition memory task after a brief delay. BOLD response amplitudes in specific regions of interest and whole brain activation maps were analyzed. Results Common activations were observed in encoding and recognition memory tasks in several ROI encompassing the medial temporal and occipital regions. Higher amplitudes occurred in right fusiform gyrus and right hippocampus during encoding. In contrast, higher BOLD response amplitudes were detected in the lingual gyrus bilaterally during recognition memory. Encoding activated distributed prefrontal and temporal cortical regions bilaterally that spanned attentional, executive, language, and memory systems. Recognition memory recruited convergence zones in the left prefrontal cortex and the parietal-occipital-temporal region bilaterally where multimodal visual association, language, memory and decision-making systems interact. Conclusions The higher right fusiform gyrus and right hippocampus activation during encoding suggests a potentially specific binding pathway. The increased lingual gyrus BOLD response during recognition memory may indicate a neural substrate for memory consolidation and long-term knowledge. Average activation maps revealed task-specific differences in areas of the prefrontal, temporal, and occipital-parietal-temporal cortices. Findings suggest that lesions in fairly widespread cerebral regions may potentially disrupt specific binding or memory consolidation processes.

Maternal sensitivity, infant limbic structure volume and functional connectivity: a preliminary study

“… 114 Using functional connectivity methods, Miller and D'Espisito 113 demonstrated right fusiform activity proceeding bilateral hippocampal activation during both encoding and retrieval phases of a facial memory task. These connectivity findings are consistent with accounts of hippocampal and fusiform co-activation during fMRI experiments examining encoding 115 and response to novelty. 116 Furthermore, in keeping with the notion that early experience affects adult social behavior, individual differences in emotionality, 117 maltreatment 118 , 119 and trauma 120 are all also predictive of hippocampal and fusiform co-activation during face-processing tasks.…”

Fusiform Correlates of Facial Memory in Autism

“…A number of functional neuroimaging studies have shown that the working memory aspect of face processing and immediate retention involves bilateral fusiform and hippocampal areas [ 90 , 91 ]. However, given the generally non-verbal nature of facial memory, more right ventral and medial temporal lobe participation may be involved [ 92 , 93 , 94 , 95 ].…”

“…With regards to memory in general, the fusiform has been implicated as an important region in visual memory consolidation processes [ 112 , 113 ]. Specific to face-location and face-name associations, functional neuroimaging studies have demonstrated that the region of the fusiform gyrus plays a role in memory consolidation [ 91 , 114 ]. Consistent with its putative role in consolidation, the current findings suggest that larger fusiform volume uniquely affects consolidation of face memory in ASD.…”

Cortical thickness in right frontal and left lingual gyri differentially mediate episodic memory for spatial contextual details across the adult lifespan

“…Walhovd et al (2006) also reported a positive association between cortical thickness in a variety of brain regions, including lingual gyrus, and higher verbal recall across months in an adult lifespan sample. More recently, functional MRI studies have highlighted the importance of ventral visual stream, which include the lingual gyrus, in supporting vivid encoding and contextual recollection (Morcom, 2014;Robinson-Long, Eslinger, Wang, Meadowcroft, & Yang, 2009;Skinner, Grady, & Fernandes, 2010). Indeed it has been suggested that successful episodic recollection relies on the recapitulation of the encoding context at retrieval, particularly in the occipital regions (Kahn, Davachi, & Wagner, 2004;McDonough, Cervantes, Gray, & Gallo, 2014;Morcom, 2014;St-Laurent, Abdi, Bondad, & Buchsbaum, 2014;Wang, Johnson, de Chastelaine, Donley, & Rugg, 2016).…”