ABSTRACT
The important distinction between implicit and explicit memory tests is based on intentional effort and conscious recollection experience during retrieval process, which has been suggested to be associated with increased activity in prefrontal and medial temporal regions, respectively. This chapter discusses brain areas activated during tasks involving implicit and explicit memory retrieval, and examined neural correlates of conscious recollection and intentional effort during memory retrieval. Whole-brain functional MRI was used to examine 8 subjects during retrieval in a block-designed fMRI experiment. Two incidental study conditions were manipulated: Semantic and perceptual word encoding conditions. During explicit retrieval of the semantically encoded words, right inferior frontal regions were activated but right anterior frontal regions were deactivated. Parahippocampal gyrus was activated during explicit retrieval of the semantically encoded words, and this result supports the idea that medial temporal lobe is a neural correlate of conscious retrieval success.
