The Characteristics and Neural Substrates of Feedback-based Decision Process in Recognition Memory
Date
2008-04-10
Author
Advisors
Dobbins, Ian G
Marsh, Elizabeth
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Abstract
The judgment of prior stimulus occurrence, generally referred to as item recognition,
is perhaps the most heavily studied of all memory skills. A skilled recognition observer
not only recovers high fidelity memory evidence, he or she is also able to flexibly
modify how much evidence is required for affirmative responding (the decision criterion)
depending upon whether the context calls for a cautious or liberal task approach.
The ability to adaptively adjust the decision criterion is a relatively understudied
recognition skill, and the goal of this thesis is to examine reinforcement learning
mechanisms contributing to recognition criterion adaptability. In Chapter 1, I review
a measurement model whose theoretical framework has been successfully applied to recognition
memory research (i.e., Signal Detection Theory). I also review major findings in
the recognition literature examining the adaptive flexibility of criteria. Chapter
2 reports behavioral experiments that examine the sensitivity of decision criteria
to trial-by-trial feedback by manipulating feedback validity in a potentially covert
manner. Chapter 3 presents another series of behavioral experiments that used even
subtler feedback manipulations based on predictions from reinforcement learning and
category learning literatures. The findings suggested that feedback induced criterion
shifts may rely upon procedural learning mechanisms that are largely implicit. The
data also revealed that the magnitudes of induced criterion shifts were significantly
correlated with personality measures linked to reward seeking outside the laboratory.
In Chapter 4 functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to explore possible
neurobiological links between brain regions traditionally linked to reinforcement
processing, and recognition decisions. Prominent activations in striatum tracked
the intrinsic goals of the subjects with greater activation for correct responding
to old items compared to correct responding to new items during standard recognition
testing. Furthermore, the pattern was amplified and reversed by the addition of extrinsic
rewards. Finally, activation in ventral striatum tracked individual differences in
personality reward seeking measures. Together, the findings further support the idea
that a reinforcement learning system contributes to recognition decision-making.
In the final chapter, I review the main implications arising from the research and
suggest future research that could bolster the current results and implications.
Type
DissertationDepartment
PsychologyPermalink
https://hdl.handle.net/10161/584Citation
Han, Sanghoon (2008). The Characteristics and Neural Substrates of Feedback-based Decision Process in Recognition
Memory. Dissertation, Duke University. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/10161/584.Collections
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