Memory reactivation or reinstatement and the mismatch negativity.
Previous studies have suggested that the memory underlying the mismatch negativity (MMN) can be deactivated by a period of silence and later reactivated. An alternative is that the memory becomes inapplicable due to a period of silence and subsequently reinstated. Both interpretations rest on the absence of a MMN for a deviant in Position 1 of a train (showing deactivation or inapplicability of the memory) and the presence of a MMN in Position 2 of the train (evidencing reactivation or reinstatement of the memory). In these studies, the standards were fixed across all trains of a given condition. Hence, it is not clear if the MMN elicited in Position 2 requires presentation of multiple trains with identical standards or only a single train. Experiment 1 showed that a single train is sufficient. With data from recent studies, Experiment 2 showed that MMNs in Position 2 of trains are due to reinstatement rather than reactivation of the memory.
Ritter
Walter
W
Cognitive Neurophysiology Laboratory, Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, NY, USA. monterey@bcn.net
Sussman
Elyse
E
Molholm
Sophie
S
Foxe
John J
JJ
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000328:Adult; D001307:Auditory Perception / Q000502:physiology; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male