Putting Memory in Context: Dissociating memories by distinguishing the nature of context

Robertson, B-A.; Eacott, M.J.; Easton, A.

doi:10.1016/j.bbr.2014.10.045

Putting Memory in Context: Dissociating memories by distinguishing the nature of context

Robertson, B-A.; Eacott, M.J.; Easton, A.

Authors

B-A. Robertson

M.J. Eacott

Professor Alex Easton alexander.easton@durham.ac.uk
Professor

Abstract

In recent years, spontaneous recognition tasks have become commonplace methods of assessing memory in animals. Adaptations of these tasks allow us to look at the role of objects, contexts and spatial locations in memory. Recent findings have highlighted that not all types of contexts in these tasks rely on the same neural systems. Similarly, asking different questions about the same types of context can allow the dissociation of neural systems underlying these memories. Here we review the current position in how context is used in such tasks, and we consider the fundamental importance of clearly defining both the nature of the context being used, and the questions asked of it in order to fully appreciate the neural and cognitive mechanisms being studied in such tasks.

Citation

Robertson, B., Eacott, M., & Easton, A. (2015). Putting Memory in Context: Dissociating memories by distinguishing the nature of context. Behavioural Brain Research, 285, 99-104. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbr.2014.10.045

Journal Article Type	Article
Acceptance Date	Oct 29, 2014
Publication Date	May 15, 2015
Deposit Date	Nov 24, 2014
Publicly Available Date	Jan 12, 2015
Journal	Behavioural Brain Research
Print ISSN	0166-4328
Publisher	Elsevier
Peer Reviewed	Peer Reviewed
Volume	285
Pages	99-104
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbr.2014.10.045
Keywords	Contextual cues, Rats, Humans, Memory, Episodic memory, Object recognition.

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Copyright Statement
NOTICE: this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Behavioural Brain Research. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Behavioural Brain Research, 285, 15 May 2015, 10.1016/j.bbr.2014.10.045.