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Abstract
Since Tulving proposed a distinction in memory between semantic and episodic memory, considerable effort has been directed towards understanding their similar and unique features. Of particular interest has been the extent to which semantic and episodic memory have a shared dependence on the hippocampus. In contrast to the definitive evidence for the link between hippocampus and episodic memory, the role of the hippocampus in semantic memory has been a topic of considerable debate. This debate stems, in part, from highly variable reports of new semantic memory learning in amnesia ranging from profound impairment to full preservation, and various degrees of deficit and ability in between. More recently, a number of significant advances in experimental methods have occurred, alongside new provocative data on the role of the hippocampus in semantic memory, making this an ideal moment to revisit this debate, to re-evaluate data, methods, and theories, and to synthesize new findings. In line with these advances, this review has two primary goals. First, we provide a historical lens with which to reevaluate and contextualize the literature on semantic memory and the hippocampus. The second goal of this review is to provide a synthesis of new findings on the role of the hippocampus and semantic memory. With the perspective of time and this critical review, we arrive at the interpretation that the hippocampus does indeed make necessary contributions to semantic memory. We argue that semantic memory, like episodic memory, is a highly flexible, (re)constructive, relational and multimodal system, and that there is value in developing methods and materials that fully capture this depth and richness to facilitate comparisons to episodic memory. Such efforts will be critical in addressing questions regarding the cognitive and neural (inter)dependencies among forms of memory, and the role that these forms of memory play in support of cognition more broadly. Such efforts also promise to advance our understanding of how words, concepts, and meaning, as well as episodes and events, are instantiated and maintained in memory and will yield new insights into our two most quintessentially human abilities: memory and language.
Highlights
50 years ago, Tulving (1972) proposed that memory research may benefit from observing a distinction between episodic and semantic memory
We look back on this body of work and note a shift in the framing of the research questions, hypotheses, and levels of evidence that altered the trajectory of this line of research away from the original question on the extent to which semantic and episodic memory depends on the hippocampus in parallel and instead moved towards studies on new semantic learning in amnesia largely in isolation from episodic memory
One critique of the developmental amnesia work has been that semantic memory was not tested as directly, or formally, in laboratory settings, as was episodic memory, in contrast, for example, in the way it was tested in patient HM (Gabrieli et al, 1988)
Summary
50 years ago, Tulving (1972) proposed that memory research may benefit from observing a distinction between episodic and semantic memory. We look back on this body of work and note a shift in the framing of the research questions, hypotheses, and levels of evidence that altered the trajectory of this line of research away from the original question on the extent to which semantic and episodic memory depends on the hippocampus in parallel and instead moved towards studies on new semantic learning in amnesia largely in isolation from episodic memory. While this ‘‘hypothesis drift’’ was likely unintentional, it seems to have gone unnoticed or at least not discussed in the literature. We start this review by reexamining and providing a critical context for the historical literature on the ability of individuals with hippocampal damage and resulting anterograde amnesia to acquire new semantic memory and on the integrity of their remote semantic memory, and show how it directly connects to current understanding of the role of the hippocampus in episodic memory
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