A Common Task Structure Links Together the Fate of Different Types of Memories.

Our memories frequently have features in common. For example, a learned sequence of words or actions can follow a common rule, which determines their serial order, despite being composed of very different events [1, 2]. This common abstract structure might link the fates of memories together. We tested this idea by creating different types of memory task: a sequence of words or actions that either did or did not have a common structure. Participants learned one of these memory tasks and then they learned another type of memory task 6 h later, either with or without the same structure. We then tested the newly formed memory's susceptibility to interference. We found that the newly formed memory was protected from interference when it shared a common structure with the earlier memory. Specifically, learning a sequence of words protected a subsequent sequence of actions learned hours later from interference, and conversely, learning a sequence of actions protected a subsequent sequence of words learned hours later from interference provided the sequences shared a common structure. Yet this protection of the newly formed memory came at a cost. The earlier memory had disrupted recall when it had the same rather than a different structure to the newly formed and protected memory. Thus, a common structure can determine what is retained (i.e., protected) and what is modified (i.e., disrupted). Our work reveals that a shared common structure links the fate of otherwise different types of memories together and identifies a novel mechanism for memory modification.

An historical perspective on Endel Tulving's episodic-semantic distinction.

The distinction between episodic and semantic memory, proposed by Endel Tulving in 1972, remains a key concept in contemporary Cognitive Neuroscience. Here we review how this distinction evolved in Tulving's writings over the years. Crucially, from 1972 onward, he argued that the two forms of memory were inter-dependent and that their interaction was an essential feature of normal episodic memory function. Moreover, later elaborations of the theory clearly proposed that these interactions formed the basis of normal declarative memory functioning. A later but crucial aspect of Tulving's contribution was his stress on the importance of subjective experience, which, according to him, "should be the ultimate object of interest, the central aspect of remembering that is to be explained and understood". We relate these and his numerous other ideas to current perspectives about the organization and function of human memory.

Memória autobiográfica da infância em universitários da Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ) / Childhood autobiographical memory in college students of Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ) / Memoria autobiográfica de la infancia de estudiantes de la Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ)

A memória autobiográfica (MA) constitui um conjunto de memórias que o indivíduo possui em relação a sua própria história de vida. O presente estudo tem como objetivo investigar a MA na infância em 60 universitários da Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro. O questionário foi composto por informações sociodemográficas e 15 perguntas abertas. Dentre os 60 entrevistados, 35 (58,3%) afirmaram recordar a memória em maiores detalhes contra 25 entrevistados (41,7%) que afirmaram recordar apenas de forma sucinta. Observou-se que 43,3% obteve a faixa-etária dos 5-6 anos como idade das primeiras MA. Os resultados são relevantes para a ampliação do conhecimento referente à MA na infância. Ainda, o estudo destas memórias pode auxiliar na melhor compreensão sobre a constituição do sujeito, bem como a influência das emoções nesse processo de armazenamento e evocação das memórias.

The autobiographical memory (AM) are a set of memories that the individual possesses in relation to his own life history. The present study aims to investigate AM in childhood in 60 university students of the Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro. The questionnaire was composed of sociodemographic information and 15 open questions. Among the 60 interviewees, 35 (58.3%) reported recalling the memory in more detail against 25 respondents (41.7%) who said they remember only succinctly. It was observed that 43.3% obtained the age range of 5-6 years as the age of the first MA. The results are relevant for the expansion of the knowledge regarding the AM in childhood. Still, the study of these memories can help in the better understanding about the constitution of the subject, as well as the influence of the emotions in this process of storage and memory evocation.

La memoria autobiográfica (MA) constituye un conjunto de memorias que el individuo posee en relación con su propia historia de vida. El presente estudio tiene como objetivo investigar la MA en la infancia en 60 universitarios de la Universidad Federal Rural de Río de Janeiro. El cuestionario se compuso de informaciones sociodemográficas y 15 preguntas abiertas. Entre los 60 entrevistados, 35 (58,3%) afirmaron recordar la memoria en mayores detalles contra 25 entrevistados (41,7%) que afirmaron recordar apenas de forma sucinta. Se observó que el 43,3% obtuvo la franja de edad de los 5-6 años como edad de las primeras MA. Los resultados son relevantes para la ampliación del conocimiento referente a la MA en la infancia. El estudio de estas memorias puede ayudar en la mejor comprensión sobre la constitución del sujeto, así como la influencia de las emociones en ese proceso de almacenamiento y evocación de las memorias.

Hyper memory, synaesthesia, savants: Luria and Borges revisited / Hipermemória, sinestesia, savants: Luria e Borges revisitados

Abstract In this paper, we investigated two subjects with superior memory, or hyper memory: Solomon Shereshevsky, who was followed clinically for years by A. R. Luria, and Funes the Memorious, a fictional character created by J. L. Borges. The subjects possessed hyper memory, synaesthesia and symptoms of what we now call autistic spectrum disorder (ASD). We will discuss interactions of these characteristics and their possible role in hyper memory. Our study suggests that the hyper memory in our synaesthetes may have been due to their ASD-savant syndrome characteristics. However, this talent was markedly diminished by their severe deficit in categorization, abstraction and metaphorical functions. As investigated by previous studies, we suggest that there is altered connectivity between the medial temporal lobe and its connections to the prefrontal cingulate and amygdala, either due to lack of specific neurons or to a more general neuronal dysfunction.

Resumo Neste artigo, investigamos dois sujeitos com memória superior ou hipermemória: Solomon Shereshevsky, que foi seguido clinicamente por anos por A. R. Luria, e Funes o memorioso, um personagem fictício criado por J. L. Borges. Os sujeitos possuem hipermemória, sinestesia e sintomas do que hoje chamamos de transtorno do espectro autista (TEA). Vamos discutir interações dessas características e seu possível papel na hipermemória. Nosso estudo sugere que a hipermemória em nossos sujeitos sinestésicos pode ser devido às suas características de síndrome do TEA-savant. No entanto, esse talento foi acentuadamente diminuído pelo profundo déficit de categorização, abstração e funções metafóricas. Conforme investigado por estudos anteriores, sugerimos que há conectividade alterada entre o lobo temporal medial e suas conexões com o cingulado pré-frontal e amígdala, devido à falta de neurônios específicos ou a uma disfunção neuronal mais geral.

Human memory reconsolidation: A guiding framework and critical review of the evidence.

Research in nonhuman animals suggests that reactivation can induce a transient, unstable state in a previously consolidated memory, during which the memory can be disrupted or modified, necessitating a process of restabilization in order to persist. Such findings have sparked a wave of interest into whether this phenomenon, known as reconsolidation, occurs in humans. Translating research from animal models to human experiments and even to clinical interventions is an exciting prospect, but amid this excitement, relatively little work has critically evaluated and synthesized existing research regarding human memory reconsolidation. In this review, we formalize a framework for evaluating and designing studies aiming to demonstrate human memory reconsolidation. We use this framework to shed light on reconsolidation-based research in human procedural memory, aversive and appetitive memory, and declarative memory, covering a diverse selection of the most prominent examples of this research, including studies of memory updating, retrieval-extinction procedures, and pharmacological interventions such as propranolol. Across different types of memory and procedure, there is a wealth of observations consistent with reconsolidation. Moreover, some experimental findings are already being translated into clinically relevant interventions. However, there are a number of inconsistent findings, and the presence of alternative explanations means that we cannot conclusively infer the presence of reconsolidation at the neurobiological level from current evidence. Reconsolidation remains a viable but hotly contested explanation for some observed changes in memory expression in both humans and animals. Developing effective and efficient new reconsolidation-based treatments can be a goal that unites researchers and guides future experiments. (PsycINFO Database Record

Not explicit but implicit memory is influenced by individual perception style.

Not only explicit but also implicit memory has considerable influence on our daily life. However, it is still unclear whether explicit and implicit memories are sensitive to individual differences. Here, we investigated how individual perception style (global or local) correlates with implicit and explicit memory. As a result, we found that not explicit but implicit memory was affected by the perception style: local perception style people more greatly used implicit memory than global perception style people. These results help us to make the new effective application adapting to individual perception style and understand some clinical symptoms such as autistic spectrum disorder. Furthermore, this finding might give us new insight of memory involving consciousness and unconsciousness as well as relationship between implicit/explicit memory and individual perception style.

Methylprednisolone as a memory enhancer in rats: Effects on aversive memory, long-term potentiation and calcium influx.

It is well recognized that stress or glucocorticoids hormones treatment can modulate memory performance in both directions, either impairing or enhancing it. Despite the high number of studies aiming at explaining the effects of glucocorticoids on memory, this has not yet been completely elucidated. Here, we demonstrate that a low daily dose of methylprednisolone (MP, 5mg/kg, i.p.) administered for 10-days favors aversive memory persistence in adult rats, without any effect on the exploring behavior, locomotor activity, anxiety levels and pain perception. Enhanced performance on the inhibitory avoidance task was correlated with long-term potentiation (LTP), a phenomenon that was strengthen in hippocampal slices of rats injected with MP (5mg/kg) during 10days. Additionally, in vitro incubation with MP (30-300µM) concentration-dependently increased intracellular [Ca2+]i in cultured hippocampal neurons depolarized by KCl (35mM). In conclusion, a low daily dose of MP for 10days may promote aversive memory persistence in rats.

Multiple Types of Memory and Everyday Functional Assessment in Older Adults.

OBJECTIVE: Current proxy measures for assessing everyday functioning (e.g., questionnaires, performance-based measures, and direct observation) show discrepancies in their rating of functional status. The present study investigated the relationship between multiple proxy measures of functional status and content memory (i.e., memory for information), temporal order memory, and prospective memory in an older adult sample. METHOD: A total of 197 community-dwelling older adults who did (n = 45) or did not meet (n = 152) criteria for mild cognitive impairment (MCI), completed six different assessments of functional status (two questionnaires, two performance-based tasks, and two direct observation tasks) as well as experimental measures of content memory, prospective memory, and temporal order memory. RESULTS: After controlling for demographics and content memory, the temporal order and prospective memory measures explained a significant amount of variance in all proxy functional status measures. When all variables were entered into the regression analyses, content memory and prospective memory were found to be significant predictors of all measures of functional status, whereas temporal order memory was a significant predictor for the questionnaire and direct observation measures, but not performance-based measures. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that direct observation and questionnaire measures may be able to capture components of everyday functioning that require context and temporal sequencing abilities, such as multi-tasking, that are not as well captured in many current laboratory performance-based measures of functional status. Future research should aim to inform the development and use of maximally effective and valid proxy measures of functional ability.

The memory of what we do not recall: dissociations and theoretical debates in the study of implicit memory

Implicit memory reflects itself on situations in which previously acquired information is expressed, without awareness or intention. The study of implicit memory has had a profound impact on how researchers have investigated the human memory. In this paper, we review the main studies which have revealed dissociations between direct and indirect tests of memory, and address the two main theoretical approaches used to explain these dissociations: the processing view and the multiple systems view. We then describe recent neuroscience studies and discuss its contributions to help clarify the debate about the mechanisms involved in explicit and implicit memory. Finally, we critically analyze some questions and controversies surrounding this literature, such as (a) the transparency assumption and the contamination issue; and (b) the theoretical utility of the dissociations. We emphasize that the biggest challenge for future research is to develop comprehensive theories that integrate behavioral and neuroscience findings (AU)

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Elimination of collaborative inhibition effect using the method of Loci / Eliminación del efecto de inhibición de colaboración usando el Método de Loci

BACKGROUND: The disruption of retrieval strategies hypothesis (Basden, Basden, Bryner, & Thomas, 1997) has been identified as the main reason for the occurrence of the collaborative inhibition effect. This study aims to test this hypothesis applying the same retrieval strategy to all participants. METHOD: To accomplish this, we compared nominal and collaborative (pairs) performance in a serial recall task in two conditions: use of own strategy vs. use of the method of loci, in a classic experimental paradigm of collaborative memory. RESULTS: Results revealed that endowing participants with the same strategy of coding and retrieval of information eliminates the collaborative inhibition effect. CONCLUSIONS: This result provides evidence for the hypothesis of the retrieval strategies disruption. The method of loci proved to be an effective mnemonic by increasing the amount of recalled information, both in the nominal and collaborative recall, when the information has to be recalled in the order that was presented

ANTECEDENTES: la hipótesis de la interrupción de las estrategias de recuperación (Basden, Basden, Bryner y Thomas, 1997) ha sido identificada como la principal explicación del efecto de inhibición de colaboración. El objetivo del presente estudio era poner a prueba esta hipótesis, para lo cual se instruyó a todos los participantes a emplear una misma estrategia de recuperación. MÉTODO: concretamente, se compararon el rendimiento nominal y de colaboración (pares) en una tarea de recuerdo serial en dos condiciones (uso de la estrategia espontánea vs. uso del Método de Loci), en un paradigma clásico experimental de la memoria de colaboración. RESULTADOS: los resultados revelaron que dotar a los participantes de la misma estrategia de codificación y recuperación de información elimina el efecto de inhibición de colaboración. CONCLUSIONES: este resultado es consistente con la hipótesis de la interrupción de las estrategias de recuperación. Al parecer, cuando la información tiene que ser recordada en el orden en el que ha sido presentada, el Método de Loci aumenta la cantidad de información que se recuerda, tanto en el recuerdo nominal como en el recuerdo en colaboración

Optogenética: historia, fundamentos y relevancia presente y futura / Optogenetics: its history, fundamentals and relevance in the present and the past

Introducción. La optogenética es una técnica experimental que combina procedimientos de ingeniería genética y de física óptica para marcar neuronas específicas del cerebro y poder activarlas después a voluntad mediante rayos de luz de determinada frecuencia. Objetivo. Explicar a los lectores, especialmente a los no versados en genética, la historia, los fundamentos y las aplicaciones presentes y futuras de la optogenética en la investigación sobre el cerebro y los procesos mentales. Desarrollo. El desarrollo actual de esta técnica está permitiendo considerables avances en el conocimiento preciso sobre los circuitos neuronales que controlan conductas y estados motivacionales y cognitivos específicos, como el hambre y la sed, el dolor, el sueño, o el aprendizaje y la memoria. Entre los primeros resultados impactantes destacan los que han hecho posible la creación y el control cerebral de falsas memorias. Conclusiones. La optogenética es una técnica revolucionaria llamada a sustituir algunas de las técnicas clásicas en la investigación cerebral y a abrir un importante y nuevo camino en el desarrollo y control de los procesos mentales y en la terapia de sus patologías (AU)

Introduction. Optogenetic is an experimental technique that combines genetic engineering and optical physics procedures to mark specific neurons in the brain and activate them at will through rays of light of certain frequency. Aim. To explain, to readers not versed in genetics the history, the rationale and the present and future applications of optogenetic in brain and mental processes research. Development. The current development of this technique is allowing considerable advances in accurate knowledge about the neural circuits that control behavior and motivational and cognitive states, like hunger and thirst, pain, sleep or learning and memory. Among the first shocking results there are the creation and control of false memories. Conclusions. The optogenetics is a revolutionary experimental technique called to replace some of the classics techniques in brain behavior research and an important way in the development and control of mental processes and in the treatment of their diseases (AU)

Memória / Memory

Este artigo tem como objetivo central apresentar os processos de memória de maneira didática, proporcionando aos alunos e futuros pesquisadores um primeiro contato satisfatório com o tema. Já há algum tempo, tem sido observada a ocorrência de confusões conceituais e metodológicas no campo da neurociência cognitiva, tanto em relação à memória quanto em relação às outras funções psicológicas básicas. Neste ensaio, alguns conceitos principais são esclarecidos. É apresentada uma classificação fenomenológica da memória, a qual inclui a memória sensorial, a memória de trabalho e as memórias de curta duração e de longa duração. Também são explicados os processos de consolidação e evocação das memórias, evidenciando os mecanismos biológicos envolvidos nestes processos. (AU)

This paper aims to present the memory processes in a didactic manner, providing students and future researchers with a first contact with this subject. For a long time, we have observed the occurrence of conceptual and methodological confusion in the field of cognitive neuroscience, regarding memory and other basic psychological functions. In this essay, some key concepts are clarified. A phenomenological classification of memory is presented, which includes sensory memory, working memory and long term memories. Memory consolidation and retrieval processes are also explained, appraising the biological background involved in these processes. (AU)

The memory systems of children with (central) auditory disorder.

This study aims to investigate working, declarative, and procedural memory in children with (central) auditory processing disorder who showed poor phonological awareness. Thirty 9- and 10-year-old children participated in the study and were distributed into two groups: a control group consisting of 15 children with typical development, and an experimental group consisting of 15 children with (central) auditory processing disorder who were classified according to three behavioral tests and who showed poor phonological awareness in the CONFIAS test battery. The memory systems were assessed through the adapted tests in the program E-PRIME 2.0. The working memory was assessed by the Working Memory Test Battery for Children (WMTB-C), whereas the declarative memory was assessed by a picture-naming test and the procedural memory was assessed by means of a morphosyntactic processing test. The results showed that, when compared to the control group, children with poor phonological awareness scored lower in the working, declarative, and procedural memory tasks. The results of this study suggest that in children with (central) auditory processing disorder, phonological awareness is associated with the analyzed memory systems.

The memory systems of children with (central) auditory disorder / Os sistemas de memória de crianças portadoras do distúrbio do processamento auditivo (central)

This study aims to investigate working, declarative, and procedural memory in children with (central) auditory processing disorder who showed poor phonological awareness. Thirty 9- and 10-year-old children participated in the study and were distributed into two groups: a control group consisting of 15 children with typical development, and an experimental group consisting of 15 children with (central) auditory processing disorder who were classified according to three behavioral tests and who showed poor phonological awareness in the CONFIAS test battery. The memory systems were assessed through the adapted tests in the program E-PRIME 2.0. The working memory was assessed by the Working Memory Test Battery for Children (WMTB-C), whereas the declarative memory was assessed by a picture-naming test and the procedural memory was assessed by means of a morphosyntactic processing test. The results showed that, when compared to the control group, children with poor phonological awareness scored lower in the working, declarative, and procedural memory tasks. The results of this study suggest that in children with (central) auditory processing disorder, phonological awareness is associated with the analyzed memory systems.

O objetivo do presente estudo foi investigar os sistemas de memória de trabalho, memória declarativa e memória procedural em crianças portadoras de distúrbio do processamento auditivo (central) que apresentam baixo desempenho na avaliação da consciência fonológica. A amostra foi constituída de 30 crianças, na faixa etária entre 9 e 10 anos, que foram distribuídas em 2 grupos: um grupo controle, constituído de 15 crianças com desenvolvimento normal e um grupo experimental, constituído de 15 crianças com distúrbio do processamento auditivo (central), que foram classificadas de acordo com 3 testes comportamentais e com baixo desempenho na avaliação da consciência fonológica por intermédio da bateria de testes CONFIAS. Os sistemas de memória foram avaliados por meio de testes adaptados no programa E-Prime 2.0. A memória de trabalho foi avaliada com base na Working Memory Test Battery for Children (WMTB-C), enquanto a memória declarativa foi avaliada por meio de um teste de nomeação de figuras, e a memória procedural, por meio de um teste de processamento morfossintático. Os resultados revelaram que, quando comparadas ao grupo controle, as crianças do grupo experimental apresentaram desempenho inferior na avaliação dos sistemas de memória de trabalho, declarativa e procedural. O presente estudo sugere que, em crianças com distúrbio do processamento auditivo (central), o processamento fonológico está relacionado com os sistemas de memória em estudo.

Memoria e historia desafíos a las prácticas políticas de olvido en américa latina / Memory and history: challenges to the forgotten political practices in latin america

Memoria y olvido han sido, desde la emergencia de nuestra especie en este mundo, significantes que nombran el gran desafío de la supervivencia simbólica en el mundo de la vida. Es la constante lucha por registrar no sólo nuestra propia existencia sino un modo de transitarla, de construirla y vivirla, exorcizando así el fantasma del olvido; porque el olvido es el enemigo de la vida misma, es el nombre de las experiencias perdidas ¿Qué sería de nosotros si olvidáramos las experiencias – más allá de su belleza o dolor - y los aprendizajesque, muchas veces con gran esfuerzo, hemos caminado en este entrelazamiento entre la especie humana y el transcurrir del tiempo?.

Memory and oblivion have been, since the emergence of our species in this world, signifiers that named the great challenge of symbolic survival in the world of life. It is the constantstruggle to record not only our own existence, but a way to move it, build it and live it, thus exorcising the ghost of oblivion; because oblivion is the enemy of life itself, it is the name of the lost experience. What would become of us if we forget experiences - beyond theirbeauty or pain—and the learning that, many times with great effort, we have stepped into this entanglement between the human species and the passing of time?.

Significados en torno a la reparación, la ayuda humanitaria, la indemnización y la restitución en víctimas del conflicto armado en el municipio de San Carlos / Meanings around reparation, humanitarian assistance, indemnification, and restitution in victims of the armed conflict in the municipality of San Carlos, Antioquia

Se presentan los primeros resultados de las indagaciones sobre la valoración que las mismas víctimas del conflicto armado, del municipio de San Carlos Antioquia (Colombia), hacen dela implementación de la Ley 1448 (Ley de Victimas); dicho proceso de investigación, en esta primera entrega, evidenció entre otros hallazgos, la contradicción entre el discurso oficial yel relato de las víctimas en relación a los procesos de reparación, discursos contradictorios respecto a la transición, el estado de vulneración e insatisfacción de necesidades básicas de las personas victimizadas así como una alta confusión en la implementación de la Ley. Estos resultados, entre otros, permiten afirmar que, la reparación hoy, dista mucho de ser un proceso que aporte a la reconstrucción del tejido social, a la paz y la reconciliación.

The first results of the inquiries on the valuation made by the very victims of the armed conflict, in the municipality of San Carlos Antioquia (Colombia) are shown in this paper, which are part of the implementation of the 1448 Law (Law of Victims); such a research process of, in this first installment, evidenced among other findings, the contradiction between the official discourse and the story of the victims in relation to the reparation processes, contradictory speeches regarding the transition, the state of infringement and dissatisfaction of victimized people’s basic needs, as well as a high confusion as for theimplementation of the Law. These findings, among others, allow to affirm that reparation today, is far from being a process that contributes to the reconstruction of the social fabric, to peace, and reconciliation.

Revisión a la implementación de los programas de retorno: una mirada a partir de tres estudios de caso en el Oriente Antioqueño / Revision to the implementation of return programs: a look into three case studies in eastern Antioquia

El presente artículo es producto de la investigación “Análisis de los procesos de retorno y reubicación de población en situación de desplazamiento forzado en los municipios de la subregión del oriente de Antioquia: tres estudios de caso”, inscrita en la Facultad de Derecho de la Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia, sede Medellín. Los estudios de caso se adelantan en los corregimientos El Jordán (municipio de San Carlos), Santa Ana (municipio de Granada) y Aquitania (municipio de San Francisco). La investigación se centra en analizar la efectividad de los procesos y políticas de retorno que se implementan en los lugares en cuestión. Para ello se tiene en cuenta el marco normativo que debe aplicarse a dichos procesos, así como los protocolos tendientes a darles una ruta metodológica. En el transcurso de la investigación, se accede además a información directa brindada por las comunidades retornadas y los entes administrativos locales encargados de los procesos de retorno. A partir del análisis de la información brindada por estos actores se concluye que la efectividad de los programas de retorno presenta diversas falencias respecto algoce efectivo de los derechos de las personas que han sido víctimas de desplazamiento forzado.

This article was the product of the research “Analysis of the processes of return and relocation of the population in a situation of forced displacement in the municipalities of the sub-region of Eastern Antioquia: three case studies,” registered in the Faculty of Law at Cooperative University of Colombia, Medellin campus. The case studies were carried out in the villages of El Jordán (Municipality of SanCarlos), Santa Ana (Municipality of Granada), and Aquitaine (Municipality of San Francisco). The research focused on analyzing the effectiveness of the processes and policies of return, which are implemented in the places in question. To that end, the regulatory framework to be applied to these processes, as well as the protocols aimed at giving them a methodological path is taken into consideration. In the course of this research, direct information is provided by returnee communities and local administrative bodies responsible for return processes. Based on an analysis of information provided by these actors, it is concluded that the effectiveness of return programs presents several shortcomings with respect to the effective enjoyment of the rights of people who have been victims of forced displacement.

Is there a deficit in recognition in old age? / ¿El reconocimiento empeora al envejecer?

BACKGROUND: There is some debate over of the effect of aging on the ability to recognize previously processed information. The aim of the present study is to analyze, by means of different measurements, whether aging has differential effects on recall and recognition of visual and verbal materials. METHOD: A within-subject design was used to compare two groups of different age (younger, older) in tasks of recall and recognition of images and of the verbal descriptors exchanged in a conversation. RESULTS: The results indicated that, unlike the recall and recognition of words, better in younger participants, the recall and recognition of images was equal in both groups, or even better in older participants when assessed by means of d'. Nevertheless, a more strict recently proposed measurement, the conditional probability for recall given recognition, yielded significant age differences in all instances. Besides, the conditional probability shows the aging changes usually found in the serial position curve: decline of the primacy effect, while maintenance of the recency effect. CONCLUSIONS: Results are explained according to the theories that postulate two components in the process of recognition (familiarity and recollection), which are independently affected by aging

ANTECEDENTES: existe controversia acerca del efecto del envejecimiento sobre la habilidad para reconocer información previamente procesada. El principal objetivo del estudio es analizar, mediante distintas medidas, si al envejecer se produce un declive diferencial del recuerdo y el reconocimiento de materiales visuales y verbales. MÉTODO: se comparó con un diseño intrasujetos el rendimiento de dos grupos de distinta edad (joven, mayor) en tareas de recuerdo y reconocimiento de imágenes y de los descriptores verbales intercambiados en una conversación. RESULTADOS: los resultados indicaron que, a diferencia del recuerdo y reconocimiento de palabras, mejor en jóvenes, el recuerdo y reconocimiento de imágenes es igual en ambos grupos, o incluso mejor en los mayores mediante estimaciones como d'. Sin embargo, una medida más estricta recientemente propuesta, la probabilidad condicionada de recordar la información reconocida, muestra diferencias significativas en función de la edad en todos los casos. Además, dibuja el cambio habitual de la curva de posición serial al envejecer: declive del efecto de primacía y mantenimiento del efecto de recencia. CONCLUSIONES: los resultados se explican en el marco de las teorías que postulan dos componentes en el proceso de reconocimiento (familiaridad y recuperación), sobre los que el envejecimiento tiene distintos efectos

BDNF val66met polymorphism affects aging of multiple types of memory.

The BDNF val66met polymorphism (rs6265) influences activity-dependent secretion of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in the synapse, which is crucial for learning and memory. Individuals homozygous or heterozygous for the met allele have lower BDNF secretion than val homozygotes and may be at risk for reduced declarative memory performance, but it remains unclear which types of declarative memory may be affected and how aging of memory across the lifespan is impacted by the BDNF val66met polymorphism. This cross-sectional study investigated the effects of BDNF polymorphism on multiple indices of memory (item, associative, prospective, subjective complaints) in a lifespan sample of 116 healthy adults aged 20-93 years. Advancing age showed a negative effect on item, associative and prospective memory, but not on subjective memory complaints. For item and prospective memory, there were significant age×BDNF group interactions, indicating the adverse effect of age on memory performance across the lifespan was much stronger in the BDNF met carriers than for the val homozygotes. BDNF met carriers also endorsed significantly greater subjective memory complaints, regardless of age, and showed a trend (p<.07) toward poorer associative memory performance compared to val homozygotes. These results suggest that genetic predisposition to the availability of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, by way of the BDNF val66met polymorphism, exerts an influence on multiple indices of episodic memory - in some cases in all individuals regardless of age (subjective memory and perhaps associative memory), in others as an exacerbation of age-related differences in memory across the lifespan (item and prospective memory). This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Memory & Aging.