Neural Conflict-Control Mechanisms Improve Memory for Target Stimuli

Abstract

According to conflict-monitoring models, conflict serves as an internal signal for reinforcing top-down attention to task-relevant information. While evidence based on measures of ongoing task performance supports this idea, implications for long-term consequences, that is, memory, have not been tested yet. Here, we evaluated the prediction that conflict-triggered attentional enhancement of target-stimulus processing should be associated with superior subsequent memory for those stimuli. By combining functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) with a novel variant of a face-word Stroop task that employed trial-unique face stimuli as targets, we were able to assess subsequent (incidental) memory for target faces as a function of whether a given face had previously been accompanied by congruent, neutral, or incongruent (conflicting) distracters. In line with our predictions, incongruent distracters not only induced behavioral conflict, but also gave rise to enhanced memory for target faces. Moreover, conflict-triggered neural activity in prefrontal and parietal regions was predictive of subsequent retrieval success, and displayed conflict-enhanced functional coupling with medial-temporal lobe regions. These data provide support for the proposal that conflict evokes enhanced top-down attention to task-relevant stimuli, thereby promoting their encoding into long-term memory. Our findings thus delineate the neural mechanisms of a novel link between cognitive control and memory.

Congruency effects on recognition memory: A context effect.

“…Furthermore, in line with other recent studies (Krebs et al, 2013;Rosner et al, 2014), recognition memory was better for hard-selection than for easy-selection items. As such, the present results converge with others indicating that …”

“…The purpose of the present study was to determine whether recently demonstrated effects of congruency on remembering (Krebs et al, 2013;Rosner et al, 2014) owe to an increase in cognitive control in response to conflict (e.g., Botvinick et al, 2001), or more straightforwardly to increased time-on-task. Superior recognition for the difficult encoding condition was observed only in Experiment 1, in which blocked presentation of the two selection difficulty conditions maximized the opportunity for differences in cognitive control.…”

“…Krebs, Boehler, De Belder, and Egner (2013) had participants complete a face-word Stroop-like task. Male or female faces were overlaid with the word "MAN" or "WOMAN", thus creating both congruent and incongruent face-word stimuli.…”

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AbstractTwo recent studies have reported that incongruent selective attention items are better remembered than congruent items on a surprise recognition memory test (Krebs, Boehler, De Belder, & Egner, 2013;Rosner, D'Angelo, MacLellan, & Milliken, 2014). These findings suggest that an increased need for cognitive control may trigger encoding mechanisms at the time of study that result in better recognition of those items at test, a form of the desirable difficulty effect (Bjork, 1994).

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Modulation of brain response to emotional conflict as a function of current mood in bipolar disorder: Preliminary findings from a follow-up state-based fMRI study

“…No other significant between-mood or betweengroup interaction was found. For small volume correction, we used findings from conflict processing literature: two meta-analyses of conflict processing studies: (1) Roberts and Hall (2008) and (2) Nee et al (2007); two recent studies using face-word interference task (without load factor): emotional (3) Chechko et al (2012) and non-emotional (4) Krebs et al (2013); one study of task-induced deactivation during stroop performance: (5) Harrison et al (2011). We also used (6) one meta-analysis from 221 studies with the factor 'Load' by Neurosynth.org (reverse inference, selection of the peak as a function of the Z score), and three meta-analyses of studies in BD patients: (7) …”