The Hippocampus and Memory of Verbal and Pictorial Material
- Andrew C. Papanicolaou1,4,
- Panagiotis G. Simos1,
- Eduardo M. Castillo1,
- Joshua I. Breier1,
- Jeffrey S. Katz2, and
- Anthony A. Wright3
- 1Vivian L. Smith Center for Neurologic Research, Department of Neurosurgery, University of Texas Health Science Center–Houston, Texas 77030, USA; 2Psychology Department, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama 36849, USA; 3Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
Abstract
Recognition of words and kaleidoscope pictures showed a double dissociation of left and right hippocampal activity using magnetic source imaging (MSI). MSI has advantages over alternative imaging techniques that measure hemodynamic changes for identifying regional changes in brain activity in real time and on an individual subject basis without the need for image subtraction. In this study, lists of words or kaleidoscope pictures were presented for memorization followed by tests of list items and foils during which brain activity was recorded. There was greater activation in the left than the right hippocampus with abstract nouns (e.g., relief) and greater activation in the right than the left hippocampus with kaleidoscope pictures. This dissociation was evident on a case by case basis. This study demonstrates the specialization of the two medial temporal lobe (MTL) regions, including the hippocampi, for mnemonic processing of verbal and pictorial items that are difficult to encode verbally.
Footnotes
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↵4 Corresponding author
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E-MAIL Andrew.C.Papanicolaou{at}uth.tmc.edu; FAX 713-797-7590.
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Article and publication are at http://www.learnmem.org/cgi/doi/10.1101/lm.44302.
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↵5 Locating activity within or adjacent to the hippocampus approaches the spatial resolution limits (∼±0.5 cm) of MSI (Papanicolaou et al. 1999; Simos et al. 1999), as well as fMRI (Stark and Squire 2000a,b).
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- Received September 26, 2001.
- Accepted April 11, 2002.
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press
