Event-related potential variations in the encoding and retrieval of different amounts of contextual information

Episodic memory events occur within multidimensional contexts; however, the electrophysiological manifestations associated with processing of more than one context have been rarely investigated. The effect of the amount of context on the ERPs was studied using two single and one double source memory tasks and by comparing full and partial context retrieval within a double source task. The single source tasks elicited waveforms with a larger amplitude during successful encoding and retrieval than the double source task. Compared with the waveforms elicited with a full source response, a partial source response elicited waveforms with a smaller amplitude, probably because the retrieval success for one context was combined with the retrieval attempt processes for the missing source. Comparing the tasks revealed that the larger the amount of contextual information processed, the smaller the amplitude of the ERPs, indicating that greater effort or further control processes were required during double source retrieval.

► A larger amount of contextual information elicits ERPs with a smaller amplitude.
► Source quantity modulates left frontal encoding ERPs reflecting semantic associations.
► Additional executive control is required when more contexts are retrieved.
► Partial source retrieval ERPs include both success and attempt processes.