Alejandro, Ricardo J.Packard, Pau A.Steiger, Tineke K.Fuentemilla Garriga, LluísBunzeck, Nico2021-10-212021-10-212021-09-141663-4365https://hdl.handle.net/2445/180740Learning novel information can be promoted if it is congruent with already stored knowledge. This so-called semantic congruence effect has been broadly studied in healthy young adults with a focus on neural encoding mechanisms. However, the impacts on retrieval, and possible impairments during healthy aging, which is typically associated with changes in declarative long-term memory, remain unclear. To investigate these issues, we used a previously established paradigm in healthy young and older humans with a focus on the neural activity at a final retrieval stage as measured with electroencephalography (EEG). In both age groups, semantic congruence at encoding enhanced subsequent long-term recognition memory of words. Compatible with this observation, semantic congruence led to differences in event-related potentials (ERPs) at retrieval, and this effect was not modulated by age. Specifically, congruence modulated old/new ERPs at a fronto-central (Fz) and left parietal (P3) electrode in a late (400-600 ms) time window, which has previously been associated with recognition memory processes. Importantly, ERPs to old items also correlated with the positive effect of semantic congruence on long-term memory independent of age. Together, our findings suggest that semantic congruence drives subsequent recognition memory across the lifespan through changes in neural retrieval processes.14 p.application/pdfengcc by (c) Alejandro, Ricardo J. et al, 2021http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/es/MemòriaVellesaMemoryOld ageinfo:eu-repo/semantics/article7198532021-10-21info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess34594212