The Influence of Mesolimbic-hippocampal Interactions on Episodic Memory During Active Information Seeking

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are investigating how interactions between brain areas involved in motivation and memory affect learning and remembering during an active information-seeking task. The study focuses on understanding how people resolve uncertainty to identify key features that unlock a treasure chest, and how this process influences their memory of new objects. This research is sponsored by Temple University and involves healthy adult volunteers aged 18 to 45 years. Participants will take part in a "treasure task" where they choose among three keys to discover which one opens a treasure chest to reveal unique images. The task includes three runs where they actively test hypotheses to find the target key feature and three control runs where key selection is instructed. The target feature changes after four successful openings, encouraging exploration and learning. Following the task, participants complete immediate and delayed memory tests for the objects seen during the task and new foils, with memory assessed both right after and 24 hours later. During the study, participants will undergo neuroimaging while performing the task to measure brain interactions related to motivation and memory. Their memory is tested through item recognition at two time points. Researchers will analyze how uncertainty resolution during the task relates to memory performance. The study includes behavioral instructions and monitors participants' motivation levels. Total participation involves completing the task, memory tests, and imaging sessions under controlled conditions.

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