title: Bridging the gap between the semantic N400 and the early old/new memory effect.
abstract: We set out to investigate the extent to which semantic integration processes during language comprehension indexed by the N400 component affect subsequent declarative memory processes as revealed by the putative event-related potential correlates of familiarity and recollection. To this end we designed an incidental recognition memory test whose study material was composed of sentences that were either correct or contained a semantic or syntactic violation. By this means it was possible to examine the mnemonic consequences of the N400 amplitude at study. We found a significant correlation between the amplitude of the N400 at encoding and the magnitude of the familiarity-related early old/new effect at test. It is argued that the processes that contributed to N400 generation increase the likelihood of familiarity-based recognition memory.
authors.affiliation: Experimental Neuropsychology Unit, Saarland University, Saarbruecken, Germany. PatricMeyer@gmx.net
authors.forename: Patric
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: Axel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mecklinger
authors.forename: Angela D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Friederici
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D032882:Comprehension / Q000502:physiology*; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000379:methods; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D012660:Semantics