Dorothy TSE - The Effects of Novelty and Prior Knowledge on Memory

In our everyday experiences, we often find that we more easily recall new information when it connects with what we already know. However, information that is new to us can also be quite memorable. This talk explores two key factors, novelty and prior knowledge, and their impact on memory formation and consolidation.
Using a rat model, we examined how exposure to novelty, either before or after memory encoding, influences retention. Novel experiences significantly enhanced memory, suggesting a critical role for novelty in strengthening consolidation. Optogenetic activation of the locus coeruleus produced comparable enhancement and induced a slow-onset potentiation in hippocampal CA1 field potentials, identifying a neural basis for the effect. Interestingly, this enhancement was blocked by the dopamine D1/D5 receptor antagonist SCH 23390, indicating a dopaminergic rather than purely noradrenergic mechanism.
We also investigated the role of prior knowledge, conceptualised as cognitive schemas built from past experiences. In animal studies, rapid spatial memory consolidation occurred when new information aligned with existing schemas. Extending this to human participants, we developed a virtual shopping mall paradigm linking objects to specific locations to assess how schemas facilitate learning. This ongoing work aims to clarify how prior knowledge aids information integration and may shed light on age-related navigation difficulties. Preliminary findings will be discussed, demonstrating how schema-based structures support efficient memory encoding and consolidation.