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The neural basis of autobiographical and semantic memory: New evidence from three PET studies
Authors:
GRAHAM, K.S., LEE, A.C.H., Brett, M. & PATTERSON, K.
Reference:
Cognitive, Affective and Behavioral Neuroscience, 3(3), 234-254
Year of publication:
2003
CBU number:
5701
Abstract:
A novel, neuropsychologically-informed, paradigm (extended retrieval of events in response to a cue-word) was used to investigate the neural basis of autobiographical and semantic memory. Contrasting retrieval of autobiographical memories with retrieval of semantic facts (ABM-SEM) in 24 subjects across three PET studies revealed bilateral involvement of the middle temporal gyrus (BA 21) and medial frontal cortex (BA 9/10). The opposite contrast, SEM-ABM, resulted in increased regional cerebral blood flow in left posterior temporal regions (BA 37) and left prefrontal cortex (BA 45/46). Laterality maps suggest that the bilateral pattern seen in our studies, but not often in other neuroimaging investigations, reflects the use of a task stressing retrieval of specific personal events. Further comparisons revealed that the activation in the right anterior temporal lobe during autobiographical recall was virtually identical to that seen during retrieval of information about famous people or events in contrast with retrieval of general semantic facts. These findings suggest that the retrieval of an autobiographical event requires participation from conceptual knowledge, and that this type of knowledge is bilaterally distributed in the temporal lobes.