title: Superior memorizers employ different neural networks for encoding and recall.
abstract: Superior memorizers often employ the method of loci (MoL) to memorize large amounts of information. The MoL, known since ancient times, relies on a complex process where information to be memorized is bound to landmarks along mental routes in a previously memorized environment. However, functional magnetic resonance imaging data on groups of trained superior memorizer are rare. Based on the memorizing strategy reported by superior memorizers, we developed a scheme of the processes successively employed during memorizing and recalling digits and relate these to brain activation that is specific for the encoding and recall period. In the examined superior memorizers several regions, suggested to be involved in mental navigation and digit-to-word processing, were specifically activated during encoding: bilateral early visual cortex, retrosplenial cortex, left parahippocampus, left visual cortex, and left superior parietal cortex. Although the scheme suggests that some steps during encoding and recall seem to be analog, none of the encoding areas were specifically activated during the recall. Instead, we found strong activation in left anterior superior temporal gyrus, which we relate to recalling the sequential order of the digits, and right motor cortex that may be related to reciting the digits.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Biometry and Medical Informatics, Medical Faculty, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mallow
authors.affiliation: Institute for Biometry and Medical Informatics, Medical Faculty, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Germany ; Center for Behavioural Brain Sciences, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bernarding
authors.affiliation: University Clinic for Neurosurgery, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Luchtmann
authors.affiliation: Special-Lab Non-Invasive Brain Imaging, Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology Magdeburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Anja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bethmann
authors.affiliation: Special-Lab Non-Invasive Brain Imaging, Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology Magdeburg, Germany.
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brechmann
keywords: encoding; mental navigation; method of loci; recall; superior memorizers