Amandine E. Rey

Demonstration of an Ebbinghaus Illusion at a Memory Level Manipulation of the Memory Size and not the Perceptual Size

Based on recent behavioral and neuroimaging data suggesting that memory and perception are partially based on the same sensorimotor system, the theoretical aim of the present study was to show that it is difficult to dissociate memory mechanisms from perceptual mechanisms other than on the basis of the presence (perceptual processing) or absence (memory processing) of the characteristics of the objects involved in the processing. In line with this assumption, two experiments using an adaptation of the Ebbinghaus illusion paradigm revealed similar effects irrespective of whether the size difference between the inner circles and the surrounding circles was manipulated perceptually (the size difference was perceptually present, Experiment 1) or merely reactivated in memory (the difference was perceptually absent, Experiment 2).

The Mask Who Wasn't There: Visual Masking Effect With the Perceptual Absence of the Mask

Does a visual mask need to be perceptually present to disrupt processing? In the present research, we proposed to explore the link between perceptual and memory mechanisms by demonstrating that a typical sensory phenomenon (visual masking) can be replicated at a memory level. Experiment 1 highlighted an interference effect of a visual mask on the categorization of auditory targets and confirmed the multimodal nature of knowledge. In Experiment 2, we proposed to reactivate this mask in a categorization task on visual targets. Results showed that the sensory mask has disrupted (slower reaction times) the processing of the targets whether the mask was perceptually present or reactivated in memory. These results support a sensory-based conception of memory processing and suggest that the difference between perceptual processes and memory processes is characterized by the presence (perception) or the absence (memory) of the sensory properties involved in the activity.

When memory components act as perceptual components: Facilitatory and interference effects in a visual categorisation task

When they live through an experience, individuals both perceive sensorimotor components in the environment (perception) and reactivate properties associated with the experience that are not perceptually present (memory). According to embodiment theory, memory consists of sensorimotor traces that are reactivated during the experience. The aim of this study was to demonstrate that a reactivated property in memory can influence the processing of a stimulus that shares this property even if the property itself is not perceptually present. In two experiments, participants had to categorise pictures of products which were typically sweet or unsweetened (they were asked if the products were edible or inedible). These pictures were preceded by (Experiment 1) or presented simultaneously with (Experiment 2) either a visual pattern that had been associated with the property of sweetness during a first phase or a visual pattern which was not associated with this property. The results revealed that the presentation of the pattern previously associated with the property of sweetness had a facilitatory effect (Experiment 1) or an interference effect (Experiment 2) on the categorisation of the pictures of sweet products. We propose an interpretation in terms of reciprocal influences between memory and perceptual mechanisms that involve the same sensorimotor properties.

Perceptual processing affects the reactivation of a sensory dimension during a categorization task.

According to grounded theories of cognition, knowledge is grounded in its sensory-motor features. Therefore, perceptual and conceptual processing should be based on the same distributed system so that conceptual and perceptual processes should interact. The present study assesses whether gustatory stimulation (participants tasted a sweet or a nonsweet yoghurt) could influence performance on a categorization task that involves the reactivation of the same sensory dimension. The results indicate that participants were slower (Experiment 1) or faster (Experiment 2), respectively, at categorizing pictures as representing edible sweet stimuli when they either simultaneously or had previously tasted a sweet yoghurt as compared to a nonsweet yoghurt. These results confirm the significant overlap between perceptual and memory mechanisms and suggest the functional equivalence between perceptually present and perceptually absent (memory reactivated) dimensions.

Manipulation gesture effect in visual and auditory presentations: the link between tools in perceptual and motor tasks.

There is much behavioral and neurophysiological evidence in support of the idea that seeing a tool activates motor components of action related to the perceived object (e.g., grasping, use manipulation). However, the question remains as to whether the processing of the motor components associated with the tool is automatic or depends on the situation, including the task and the modality of tool presentation. The present study investigated whether the activation of motor components involved in tool use in response to the simple perception of a tool is influenced by the link between prime and target tools, as well as by the modality of presentation, in perceptual or motor tasks. To explore this issue, we manipulated the similarity of gesture involved in the use of the prime and target (identical, similar, different) with two tool presentation modalities of the presentation tool (visual or auditory) in perceptual and motor tasks. Across the experiments, we also manipulated the relevance of the prime (i.e., associated or not with the current task). The participants saw a first tool (or heard the sound it makes), which was immediately followed by a second tool on which they had to perform a perceptual task (i.e., indicate whether the second tool was identical to or different from the first tool) or a motor task (i.e., manipulate the second tool as if it were the first tool). In both tasks, the similarity between the gestures employed for the first and the second tool was manipulated (Identical, Similar or Different gestures). The results showed that responses were faster when the manipulation gestures for the two tools were identical or similar, but only in the motor task. This effect was observed irrespective of the modality of presentation of the first tool, i.e., visual or auditory. We suggest that the influence of manipulation gesture on response time depends on the relevance of the first tool in motor tasks. We discuss these motor activation results in terms of the relevance and demands of the tasks.

A comprehensive literature review of chronic pain and memory

&NA; Chronic pain patients often complain of their “poor memory” and numerous studies objectively confirmed such difficulties in reporting working memory (WM) and long‐term memory (LTM) dysfunctions. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the literature on memory impairment in chronic pain (CP) patients. Twenty‐four observational studies evaluating WM or/and LTM in a chronic pain group and a control group were included in this review. Results showed that studies consistently reported a moderate decline, in both WM and LTM performances in CP patients. Even if CP patients complained about forgetfulness, objective measurements did not permit to conclude to a long‐term storage impairment. CP patients exhibited more specifically encoding or retrieving difficulties compared to controls. Results showed that chronic pain selectively impacted the most attention‐demanding memory processes, such as working memory and recollection in long‐term memory. Results also demonstrated that CP patients exhibited a memory bias directed towards painful events compared to control subjects. Several authors have suggested that CP could be a maladaptive consequence of memory mechanisms. The long‐lasting presence of pain continuously reinforces aversive emotional associations with incidental events. The inability to extinguish this painful memory trace could explain the chronic persistence of pain even when the original injury has disappeared. A major concern is the need to extricate pain‐related cognitive effects from those resulting from all the co‐morbidities associated with CP which both have a deleterious effect on cognitive function. HighlightsChronic pain (CP) patients often complain of their “poor memory”.Results showed a moderate decline, in both working memory and long‐term memory performances in CP patients.Objective measurements did not permit to conclude to a long‐term storage impairment, CP patients exhibited more specifically encoding or retrieving difficulties compared to controls.Because pain itself has a cognitive‐evaluative component, understanding pain–memory interactions will improve therapeutic management.

The automatic visual simulation of words: A memory reactivated mask slows down conceptual access.

How do we represent the meaning of words? The present study assesses whether access to conceptual knowledge requires the reenactment of the sensory components of a concept. The reenactment—that is, simulation—was tested in a word categorisation task using an innovative masking paradigm. We hypothesised that a meaningless reactivated visual mask should interfere with the simulation of the visual dimension of concrete words. This assumption was tested in a paradigm in which participants were not aware of the link between the visual mask and the words to be processed. In the first phase, participants created a tone–visual mask or tone–control stimulus association. In the test phase, they categorised words that were presented with 1 of the tones. Results showed that words were processed more slowly when they were presented with the reactivated mask. This interference effect was only correlated with and explained by the value of the visual perceptual strength of the words (i.e., our experience with the visual dimensions associated with concepts) and not with other characteristics. We interpret these findings in terms of word access, which may involve the simulation of sensory features associated with the concept, even if participants were not explicitly required to access visual properties. Comment nous représentons-nous le sens des mots? La présente étude évalue si l’accès aux connaissances conceptuelles requiert la reconstitution des éléments sensoriels d’un concept. La reconstitution, c’est-à-dire la simulation, a été testée dans le cadre d’une tâche de catégorisation des mots au moyen d’un paradigme de masquage novateur. Nous avons émis l’hypothèse qu’un masque visuel réactivé superflu pourrait interférer avec la simulation de la dimension visuelle de mots concrets. Cette hypothèse a été vérifiée au moyen d’un paradigme dans le cadre duquel les participants n’étaient pas conscients du lien qui existait entre le masque visuel et les mots à traiter. Lors de la première phase, les participaient faisaient une association ton - masque visuel ou ton - contrôle du stimulus. Lors de la phase-test, ils ont catégorisé des mots qui étaient présentés avec l’un des deux tons. Les résultats ont montré que les mots étaient traités plus lentement lorsqu’ils étaient présentés avec le masque réactivé. Cet effet d’interférence a uniquement pu être corrélé avec et expliqué par la valeur de la force de perception visuelle des mots (c’est-à-dire notre expérience avec les dimensions visuelles associées aux concepts) et non avec les autres caractéristiques. Nous interprétons ces résultats en termes d’accès aux mots, lesquels peuvent impliquer la simulation de fonctions sensorielles associées au concept, même si les participants n’étaient pas tenus d’accéder aux propriétés visuelles.

Complementarity of assembly-first and mapping-first approaches for alternative splicing annotation and differential analysis from RNAseq data

Genome-wide analyses estimate that more than 90% of multi exonic human genes produce at least two transcripts through alternative splicing (AS). Various bioinformatics methods are available to analyze AS from RNAseq data. Most methods start by mapping the reads to an annotated reference genome, but some start by a de novo assembly of the reads. In this paper, we present a systematic comparison of a mapping-first approach (FaRLine) and an assembly-first approach (KisSplice). We applied these methods to two independent RNAseq datasets and found that the predictions of the two pipelines overlapped (70% of exon skipping events were common), but with noticeable differences. The assembly-first approach allowed to find more novel variants, including novel unannotated exons and splice sites. It also predicted AS in recently duplicated genes. The mapping-first approach allowed to find more lowly expressed splicing variants, and splice variants overlapping repeats. This work demonstrates that annotating AS with a single approach leads to missing out a large number of candidates, many of which are differentially regulated across conditions and can be validated experimentally. We therefore advocate for the combined use of both mapping-first and assembly-first approaches for the annotation and differential analysis of AS from RNAseq datasets.

Haptic modality takes its time: Dynamic of activations of sensory modalities in perceptual and memory processes.

Based on claims resulting from grounded cognition theory that perceptual and memory processes are using the same distributed systems, the present study investigated the temporal aspect of access to memory traces through haptic and auditory modalities. Unlike in the case of visual or auditory components, the perception of a vibrotactile component is more sequential in nature and therefore cannot be fully processed before the end of the signal. The present study explores the dynamic of components activation in a situation of audio-vibrotactile asynchrony. We used a short-term priming paradigm consisting of an association phase (between a vibration and sound) and a test phase testing priming effect of a vibrotactile stimulation on the processing of a target sound. Results showed an interference with a simultaneous processing and a facilitation with a sequential processing. The temporality process of perceptual components is also important at a memory level.

When a Reactivated Visual Mask Disrupts Serial Recall: Evidence That Refreshing Relies on Memory Traces Reactivation in Working Memory

To prevent forgetting in working memory, the attentional refreshing is supposed to increase the level of activation of memory traces by focusing attention. However, the involvement of memory traces reactivation in refreshing relies in the majority on indirect evidence. The aim of this study was to show that refreshing relies on the reactivation of memory traces by investigating how the reactivation of an irrelevant trace prevents the attentional refreshing to take place, and (2) the memory traces reactivated are sensorial in nature. We used a reactivated visual mask presented during the encoding (Experiment 1) and the refreshing (Experiment 2) of pictures in a complex span task. Results showed impaired serial recall performance in both experiments when the mask was reactivated compared to a control stimulus. Experiment 3 confirmed the refreshing account of these results. We proposed that refreshing relies on the reactivation of sensory memory traces.