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Tracking the Reinstatement of Semantic and Emotional Information during Episodic Memory Retrieval

Petersdotter, Linn LU ; van de Langenberg, Sterre ; Bramao, Ines LU orcid and Johansson, Mikael LU orcid (2025) International Conference of Cognitive Neuroscience (ICON) Porto 2025
Abstract
Retrieving episodic memories often involves reconstructing both their semantic content and the emotional context in which they occurred. However, the neural mechanisms that differentiate these forms of reinstatement remain poorly understood. This event-related potential (ERP) study examines how semantic category and emotional valence are reinstated during memory retrieval.

Seventy participants encoded word-image pairs, with neutral words paired with images of faces or scenes that varied in emotional valence (positive, negative, neutral). During retrieval, participants were presented with word cues and asked to recall the semantic category and emotional valence of the associated image. Brain activity from fully recollected trials,... (More)
Retrieving episodic memories often involves reconstructing both their semantic content and the emotional context in which they occurred. However, the neural mechanisms that differentiate these forms of reinstatement remain poorly understood. This event-related potential (ERP) study examines how semantic category and emotional valence are reinstated during memory retrieval.

Seventy participants encoded word-image pairs, with neutral words paired with images of faces or scenes that varied in emotional valence (positive, negative, neutral). During retrieval, participants were presented with word cues and asked to recall the semantic category and emotional valence of the associated image. Brain activity from fully recollected trials, in which both category and valence were recalled, was compared to partially or completely forgotten trials. Analyses were conducted separately based on semantic and emotional content.

Recollection of faces elicited a canonical left-parietal memory effect (600-900 ms), followed by two later, anteriorly distributed positive-going effects, suggesting sustained mnemonic processing. In contrast, scene recollection was characterized by a pronounced late posterior negativity (LPN; 1100–1500 ms), potentially reflecting increased reconstructive demands for contextually rich stimuli.

Emotional content influenced retrieval-related brain activity, with distinct effects observed for positive and negative valence. Memory for negative associates elicited a sustained late memory effect (1200-1600 ms) across frontal and parietal sites, overlapping with the LPN observed for scenes. In contrast, memory for positive associates elicited an earlier left-parietal effect (600–800 ms), similar to the face-related effect, followed by a later fronto-central/parietal positivity (1600-1800 ms). Neutral stimuli failed to elicit robust memory effects, suggesting that emotional arousal may enhance mnemonic reinstatement.

Additionally, an early emotion-specific ERP modulation between 200–300 ms was observed for both negative and positive associates relative to neutral. This effect was independent of retrieval success, suggesting a rapid and implicit reactivation of the emotional tone of the associated image.

These findings reveal both distinct and overlapping temporal and topographic neural dynamics supporting the retrieval of semantic and emotional aspects of episodic memories. They further indicate that emotional arousal can modulate memory processes at early stages, independent of conscious recollection, offering new insights into how emotionally salient experiences are reconstructed in the brain.

Keywords: Episodic memory, ERPs, semantic content, emotional valence, mnemonic reinstatement
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Contribution to conference
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published
subject
keywords
episodic memory, ERP, emotional memory, semantic memory, retrieval
conference name
International Conference of Cognitive Neuroscience (ICON) Porto 2025
conference location
Porto, Portugal
conference dates
2025-09-15 - 2025-09-20
language
English
LU publication?
yes
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29df5021-5d78-47e3-adf2-5909f6b67533
date added to LUP
2025-10-12 11:56:24
date last changed
2025-10-13 15:11:19
@misc{29df5021-5d78-47e3-adf2-5909f6b67533,
  abstract     = {{Retrieving episodic memories often involves reconstructing both their semantic content and the emotional context in which they occurred. However, the neural mechanisms that differentiate these forms of reinstatement remain poorly understood. This event-related potential (ERP) study examines how semantic category and emotional valence are reinstated during memory retrieval.<br/><br/>Seventy participants encoded word-image pairs, with neutral words paired with images of faces or scenes that varied in emotional valence (positive, negative, neutral). During retrieval, participants were presented with word cues and asked to recall the semantic category and emotional valence of the associated image. Brain activity from fully recollected trials, in which both category and valence were recalled, was compared to partially or completely forgotten trials. Analyses were conducted separately based on semantic and emotional content.<br/><br/>Recollection of faces elicited a canonical left-parietal memory effect (600-900 ms), followed by two later, anteriorly distributed positive-going effects, suggesting sustained mnemonic processing. In contrast, scene recollection was characterized by a pronounced late posterior negativity (LPN; 1100–1500 ms), potentially reflecting increased reconstructive demands for contextually rich stimuli. <br/><br/>Emotional content influenced retrieval-related brain activity, with distinct effects observed for positive and negative valence. Memory for negative associates elicited a sustained late memory effect (1200-1600 ms) across frontal and parietal sites, overlapping with the LPN observed for scenes. In contrast, memory for positive associates elicited an earlier left-parietal effect (600–800 ms), similar to the face-related effect, followed by a later fronto-central/parietal positivity (1600-1800 ms). Neutral stimuli failed to elicit robust memory effects, suggesting that emotional arousal may enhance mnemonic reinstatement. <br/><br/>Additionally, an early emotion-specific ERP modulation between 200–300 ms was observed for both negative and positive associates relative to neutral. This effect was independent of retrieval success, suggesting a rapid and implicit reactivation of the emotional tone of the associated image. <br/><br/>These findings reveal both distinct and overlapping temporal and topographic neural dynamics supporting the retrieval of semantic and emotional aspects of episodic memories. They further indicate that emotional arousal can modulate memory processes at early stages, independent of conscious recollection, offering new insights into how emotionally salient experiences are reconstructed in the brain.<br/><br/>Keywords: Episodic memory, ERPs, semantic content, emotional valence, mnemonic reinstatement<br/>}},
  author       = {{Petersdotter, Linn and van de Langenberg, Sterre and Bramao, Ines and Johansson, Mikael}},
  keywords     = {{episodic memory; ERP; emotional memory; semantic memory; retrieval}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{09}},
  title        = {{Tracking the Reinstatement of Semantic and Emotional Information during Episodic Memory Retrieval}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/229504636/LinnPetersdotter_ICON_print.pdf}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}