Time is a critical component of episodic memory. Yet it is currently unclear how different types of temporal signals are represented in the brain and how these temporal signals support episodic memory. The current study investigated whether temporal cues provided by low-frequency environmental rhythms influence memory formation. Specifically, we tested the hypothesis that neural tracking of low-frequency rhythm serves as a mechanism of selective attention that dynamically biases the encoding of visual information at specific moments in time. Participants incidentally encoded a series of visual objects while passively listening to background, instrumental music with a steady beat. Objects either appeared in-synchrony or out-of-synchrony with the background beat. Participants were then given a surprise subsequent memory test (in silence). Results revealed significant neural tracking of the musical beat at encoding, evident in increased electrophysiological power and inter-trial phase coherence at the perceived beat frequency (1.25 Hz). Importantly, enhanced neural tracking of the background rhythm at encoding was associated with superior subsequent memory for in-synchrony compared to out-of-synchrony objects at test. Together, these results provide novel evidence that the brain spontaneously tracks low-frequency musical rhythm during naturalistic listening situations, and that the strength of this neural tracking is associated with the effects of rhythm on higher-order cognitive processes such as episodic memory.

中文翻译：

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及时记忆：低频节律的神经追踪动态调节记忆形成

时间是情景记忆的重要组成部分。然而，目前尚不清楚不同类型的时间信号如何在大脑中表示以及这些时间信号如何支持情景记忆。目前的研究调查了低频环境节奏提供的时间线索是否影响记忆形成。具体来说，我们测试了以下假设：低频节律的神经跟踪作为一种选择性注意机制，在特定时间动态偏置视觉信息的编码。参与者在被动地聆听背景音乐和稳定节拍的器乐时，偶然地编码了一系列视觉对象。对象要么与背景节拍同步，要么不同步。然后对参与者进行了令人惊讶的后续记忆测试（在沉默中）。结果显示编码时音乐节拍的显着神经跟踪，在感知节拍频率 (1.25 Hz) 下增加的电生理功率和试验间相位相干性很明显。重要的是，与测试时的不同步对象相比，编码时对背景节奏的增强神经跟踪与同步的卓越后续记忆相关。总之，这些结果提供了新的证据，表明大脑在自然聆听的情况下会自发地跟踪低频音乐节奏，并且这种神经跟踪的强度与节奏对高阶认知过程（如情景记忆）的影响有关。在感知的搏动频率 (1.25 Hz) 下增加的电生理功率和试验间相位相干性很明显。重要的是，与测试时的不同步对象相比，编码时对背景节奏的增强神经跟踪与同步的卓越后续记忆相关。总之，这些结果提供了新的证据，表明大脑在自然聆听的情况下会自发地跟踪低频音乐节奏，并且这种神经跟踪的强度与节奏对高阶认知过程（如情景记忆）的影响有关。在感知的搏动频率 (1.25 Hz) 下增加的电生理功率和试验间相位相干性很明显。重要的是，与测试时的不同步对象相比，编码时对背景节奏的增强神经跟踪与同步的卓越后续记忆相关。总之，这些结果提供了新的证据，表明大脑在自然聆听的情况下会自发地跟踪低频音乐节奏，并且这种神经跟踪的强度与节奏对高阶认知过程（如情景记忆）的影响有关。