Brain regions involved in subprocesses of small-space episodic object-location memory: a systematic review of lesion and functional neuroimaging studies.
Object-location memory (OLM) enables us to keep track of the locations of objects in our environment. The neurocognitive model of OLM (Postma, A., Kessels, R. P. C., & Van Asselen, M. (2004). The neuropsychology of object-location memory. In G. L. Allen (Ed.), Human spatial memory: Remembering where (pp. 143-160). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum, Postma, A., Kessels, R. P. C., & Van Asselen, M. (2008). How the brain remembers and forgets where things are: The neurocognition of object-location memory. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 32, 1339-1345. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2008.05.001 ) proposes that distinct brain regions are specialised for different subprocesses of OLM (object processing, location processing, and object-location binding; categorical and coordinate OLM; egocentric and allocentric OLM). It was based mainly on findings from lesion studies. However, recent episodic memory studies point to a contribution of additional or different brain regions to object and location processing within episodic OLM. To evaluate and update the neurocognitive model of OLM, we therefore conducted a systematic literature search for lesion as well as functional neuroimaging studies contrasting small-space episodic OLM with object memory or location memory. We identified 10 relevant lesion studies and 8 relevant functional neuroimaging studies. We could confirm some of the proposals of the neurocognitive model of OLM, but also differing hypotheses from episodic memory research, about which brain regions are involved in the different subprocesses of small-space episodic OLM. In addition, we were able to identify new brain regions as well as important research gaps.
a International Normal Aging and Plasticity Center (INAPIC) , University of Zurich , Zurich , Switzerland.|b Department of Gerontopsychology , University of Zurich , Zurich , Switzerland.|c University Research Priority Program "Dynamics of Healthy Aging", University of Zurich , Zurich , Switzerland.
Kathrin
K
Zimmermann
a International Normal Aging and Plasticity Center (INAPIC) , University of Zurich , Zurich , Switzerland.|c University Research Priority Program "Dynamics of Healthy Aging", University of Zurich , Zurich , Switzerland.
Anne
A
Eschen
D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology; D001931:Brain Mapping; D005556:Form Perception / Q000502:physiology; D059907:Functional Neuroimaging / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008569:Memory Disorders; D061212:Memory, Episodic; D011939:Mental Recall; D013028:Space Perception / Q000502:physiology*
Object-location memory; binding; episodic memory; lesion; neuroimaging