Recollection and familiarity: Examining controversial assumptions and new directions

Abstract

It is well accepted that recognition memory reflects the contribution of two separable memory retrieval processes, namely recollection and familiarity. However, fundamental questions remain regarding the functional nature and neural substrates of these processes. In this article, we describe a simple quantitative model of recognition memory (i.e., the dual-process signal detection model) that has been useful in integrating findings from a broad range of cognitive studies, and that is now being applied in a growing number of neuroscientific investigations of memory. The model makes several strong assumptions about the behavioral nature and neural substrates of recollection and familiarity. A review of the literature indicates that these assumptions are generally well supported, but that there are clear boundary conditions in which these assumptions break down. We argue that these findings provide important insights into the operation of the processes underlying recognition. Finally, we consider how the dual-process approach relates to recent neuroanatomical and computational models and how it might be integrated with recent findings concerning the role of medial temporal lobe regions in other cognitive functions such as novelty detection, perception, implicit memory and short-term memory.

Memory Retrieval in Mice and Men

“…Another point of dispute is whether the tests typically used to dissociate recollection and familiarity (e.g., remember/know test [Tulving 1985]) indeed dissociate these two processes (e.g., Perfect 1996;Yonelinas 2002;Parks and Yonelinas 2007;Yonelinas et al 2010), or whether they in fact only separate strong memories from weaker ones (Donaldson 1996;Dunn 2004;Wais et al 2008;. Last, but clearly not least, in the context of the present discussion, the debates involve the role of distinct brain regions, primarily in the medial temporal lobe (MTL) in recollection/familiarity processes (see below).…”

Cognitive and neuroimaging evidence of impaired interaction between self and memory in Alzheimer's disease

“…controlled and conscious episodic retrieval of information together with the context and elaborations from encoding (Tulving, 2002) rather than familiarity (i.e. a relatively automatic process of global assessment of memory strength or stimulus fluency (for reviews, see Yonelinas, 2002 andYonelinas et al, 2010)). In support of this hypothesis, several authors have shown that the retrieval of information associated to M A N U S C R I P T A C C E P T E D ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT 5 Carroll et al, 2001; Van den Bos et al, 2010).…”

Item familiarity and controlled associative retrieval in Alzheimer's disease: An fMRI study

“…Recollection reflects the controlled, conscious retrieval of information, including the recovery of details from the encoding context. Familiarity reflects a relatively automatic process of global assessment of memory strength or stimulus recency without controlled access to the associated contextual information (for reviews, see Yonelinas, 2002, andYonelinas et al, 2010). In the same vein, within recognition memory assessment, item recognition can be distinguished from associative recognition.…”

“…On the contrary, it is often assumed that performance on item recognition tasks relies mostly on familiarity in the absence of recollection (e.g. Montaldi and Mayes, 2010;Yonelinas, 2002;Yonelinas et al, 2010). A few studies on long-term memory in AD have assessed memory for items and associations as well as the familiarity and recollection functions.…”

“…According to Yonelinas (2002;Yonelinas et al, 2010), retrieval of inter-item associations is mainly supported by recollection. However, the authors noted one exception: if the two items have been encoded as a whole item in the study phase (i.e.…”