Gonzalo, Desiree Hernandez; (2002) Functional neuroanatomy of human associative learning. Doctoral thesis (Ph.D.), University College London (United Kingdom).

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Abstract

The aim of this PhD is to describe the functional neuroanatomy underlying associative learning processes, specifically those involved in the crossmodal integration of information, using functional magnetic resonance imaging. The first study (chapter 3) investigated brain systems engaged during learning word paired- associates with mediation of mnemonic strategies, such as imagery (nonverbal) and semantic relatedness (verbal). This study revealed activation in visual cortex mediating use of nonverbal cues during encoding and in frontal and temporal cortices reflecting verbal and semantic manipulations of the material. The second and third experiments (chapters 4 and 5) studied the neural systems involved in making associations between abstract auditory (music chords) and visual (Chinese ideograms) stimuli. In these studies, hippocampus and insula-claustrum activations were observed during crossmodal associative encoding. The fourth study (chapter 6) investigated modulatory responses within sensory cortices as a function of associative learning. Here it was possible to show that through associative processes, auditory cortex can respond to visual stimuli (colours), which become predictive of auditory stimuli (meaningless sounds). The reverse was also observed in visual cortex. The fifth experiment (chapter 7) compared brain regions mediating crossmodal transfer (encoding and retrieval in different modalities) versus intramodal (encoding and retrieval in the same modality) retrieval of information in the visual and auditory modalities. The question addressed in this experiment was how information, which is represented in various modalities, is integrated and subsequently evoked by another input modality. The main finding in this case was the crucial involvement of left inferior frontal gyrus in crossmodal retrieval. This thesis provides a description of brain systems involved in associative learning, with specific stress on crossmodal associations. The findings suggest such brain systems involve primary and association sensory cortices as well as insula-claustrum, multisensory temporoparietal areas, and association prefrontal cortex.

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