Preserved capacity for learning statistical regularities and directing selective attention after hippocampal lesions
Abstract
The hippocampus is important for many kinds of learning and memory. We explored the role of the hippocampus in the learning of statistical regularities. We administered a motion discrimination task where expectation about stimulus regularities, the degree of attention afforded to the relevant stimulus, and the amount of available sensory information were manipulated. Although modestly slower overall, patients with bilateral damage to the hippocampus performed similar to controls, exhibiting a normal tendency to respond faster and more accurately when the motion direction was more probable, when the stimulus was better attended, and when more sensory evidence was present. These findings show that the ability to acquire expectations based on regularities of a sensory environment can be independent of the hippocampus.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Sep 06, 2019
- Source ID
- 10.1073/pnas.1904502116
Entities
People
- John T. Serences
- Larry R. Squire
- Nuttida Rungratsameetaweemana
Organizations
- James S. McDonnell Foundation
- National Eye Institute
- National Institute of Mental Health
- United States Army Research Laboratory
- University of California, San Diego