Summary: The way an event is described—whether through conceptual detail (thoughts, emotions, interpretations) or perceptual detail (sights, sounds, concrete observations)—shapes how the brain encodes and later recalls that event. In a recent Journal of Neuroscience study, participants listened to matched stories that differed only in the type of elaboration added. Neuroimaging revealed that these two storytelling styles engaged distinct hippocampal‑cortical networks and that those patterns of activity predicted how well listeners later remembered the core events.
Researchers at McGill University, led by Signy Sheldon, designed narratives that shared the same central plot but were elaborated in two separate ways: with conceptual elaborations focused on feelings and interpretations, and with perceptual elaborations emphasizing sensory details and concrete observations. Thirty‑five adults listened to these narratives while undergoing functional MRI scanning. Later, participants were tested on their memory for the central story elements.
The imaging results showed a clear dissociation between the two narrative styles. Stories rich in conceptual detail preferentially engaged the anterior hippocampus and its connectivity with regions of the default mode network (DMN) involved in emotion, meaning‑making and interpretation. By contrast, perceptual stories strengthened connectivity between the anterior hippocampus and parietal and lateral temporal areas more closely tied to sensory and perceptual processing. Importantly, the particular hippocampal‑cortical connectivity patterns observed during listening predicted how well each person later recalled the central events of the story.
These findings support the idea that memory for events is not unitary but can be guided by distinct neural systems depending on how information is presented. That is, storytelling style can sculpt the memory trace by biasing hippocampal connections toward networks that favor conceptual or perceptual processing. This has practical implications: tailoring the way information is described—using more conceptual or more sensory language—may improve retention for different audiences or contexts.
Signy Sheldon and colleagues note that preferences for memory systems vary across individuals and across the lifespan. For example, prior work suggests older adults tend to rely more on conceptual memory processes, while younger adults may favor perceptual processing when experiencing events. If these tendencies are robust, then communicating with more conceptual details could boost memory in older listeners, while emphasizing perceptual features could better support memory in younger listeners. The research team plans to test these age‑related predictions in future studies.
Key Facts:
- Dual memory pathways: Conceptual narratives activate emotional and interpretive networks linked to the DMN, whereas perceptual narratives recruit sensory and perceptual cortical regions.
- Encoding predicts recall: The pattern of hippocampal connectivity observed during listening forecasted subsequent memory for the central story events.
- Communication applications: Adapting storytelling or instructional language to emphasize conceptual or perceptual elements may enhance memory retention across different listeners and age groups.
Key Questions Answered:
A: They examined whether conceptual versus perceptual storytelling changes hippocampal‑cortical connectivity during encoding and whether those differences predict later memory for the central events.
A: Conceptually focused stories increased connectivity between the anterior hippocampus and DMN regions involved in interpretation and emotion, while perceptually focused stories linked the hippocampus to parietal and lateral temporal sensory networks.
A: The results show that the language we use to describe events shapes which memory systems are engaged, suggesting opportunities to tailor communication for better retention depending on the audience.
About this memory and neuroscience research news
Author: SfN Media
Source: SfN
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Original Research: Closed access. “Hippocampal–Cortical Networks Predict Conceptual Versus Perceptually Guided Narrative Memory” by Signy Sheldon et al., Journal of Neuroscience. DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1936-24.2025
Abstract
Hippocampal–Cortical Networks Predict Conceptual Versus Perceptually Guided Narrative Memory
Current theories of event memory propose distinct patterns of connectivity between the hippocampus and neocortical regions—particularly subsystems of the default mode network (DMN)—to support different types of mnemonic content. Hippocampal connectivity is thought to integrate diverse information into unified event memories, implying that reframing or describing an event differently could selectively engage different hippocampal networks.
To address how narrative style influences these networks, the authors created event narratives that preserved identical central story details but appended additional elaborations that were either conceptually related (feelings, interpretations) or perceptually related (sensory observations). Using fMRI in a sample of 35 participants, they measured hippocampal connectivity while participants encoded these narratives and then related those connectivity patterns to subsequent memory for the narratives.
Consistent with prior findings, conceptual narratives produced stronger anterior hippocampal connectivity with regions within the core and dorsomedial DMN subsystems, and part of this connectivity pattern predicted memory for the central story content. Perceptual narratives were associated with anterior hippocampal connectivity to parietal and lateral temporal regions outside the canonical DMN, in relation to memory performance. These results refine our understanding of hippocampal and DMN functional organization and demonstrate how distinct neural components contribute differentially to event memory.