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Mental time travel in the rat: Dissociation of recall and familiarity

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 October 2007

Madeline J. Eacott
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Durham, Durham DH1 3LE, United Kingdom. m.j.eacott@durham.ac.ukhttp://www.dur.ac.uk/behavioural.neuroscience/alexander.easton@durham.ac.ukhttp://www.dur.ac.uk/behavioural.neuroscience/
Alexander Easton
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Durham, Durham DH1 3LE, United Kingdom. m.j.eacott@durham.ac.ukhttp://www.dur.ac.uk/behavioural.neuroscience/alexander.easton@durham.ac.ukhttp://www.dur.ac.uk/behavioural.neuroscience/

Abstract

We examine and reject the claim that the past-directed aspect of mental time travel (episodic memory) is unique to humans. Recent work in our laboratory with rats has demonstrated behaviours that resemble “remember, know” judgements about past occasions. Similar to human episodic memory, we can also demonstrate a dissociation in the neural basis of recollection and familiarity in nonhumans.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2007

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