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Review
. 2024 Feb;24(1):1-18.
doi: 10.3758/s13415-023-01140-1. Epub 2023 Nov 29.

Brain representations of space and time in episodic memory: A systematic review and meta-analysis

César Torres-Morales  1 , Selene Cansino  2
Affiliations
Review

Brain representations of space and time in episodic memory: A systematic review and meta-analysis

César Torres-Morales et al. Cogn Affect Behav Neurosci. 2024 Feb.

Abstract

All experiences preserved within episodic memory contain information on the space and time of events. The hippocampus is the main brain region involved in processing spatial and temporal information for incorporation within episodic memory representations. However, the other brain regions involved in the encoding and retrieval of spatial and temporal information within episodic memory are unclear, because a systematic review of related studies is lacking and the findings are scattered. The present study was designed to integrate the results of functional magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography studies by means of a systematic review and meta-analysis to provide converging evidence. In particular, we focused on identifying the brain regions involved in the retrieval of spatial and temporal information. We identified a spatial retrieval network consisting of the inferior temporal gyrus, parahippocampal gyrus, superior parietal lobule, angular gyrus, and precuneus. Temporal context retrieval was supported by the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Thus, the retrieval of spatial and temporal information is supported by different brain regions, highlighting their different natures within episodic memory.

Keywords: Meta-analysis; Recollection; Source memory; Spatial context; Temporal context; fMRI.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Study selection for the meta-analyses
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Brain regions exhibiting significant activation in the spatial and temporal meta-analyses. Color bar represents the activation likelihood estimation (ALE) scores
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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