Rich episodic experiences are represented in a hierarchical manner across a diverse network of brain regions, and as such, the way in which episodes are forgotten is likely to be similarly diverse. Using novel experimental approaches and statistical modelling, recent research has suggested that item-based representations, such as ones related to the colour and shape of an object, fragment over time, whereas higher-order event-based representations may be forgotten in a more ‘holistic’ uniform manner. We propose a framework that reconciles these findings, where complex episodes are represented in a hierarchical manner, from individual items, to small-scale events, to large-scale episodic narratives. Each level in the hierarchy is represented in distinct brain regions, from the perirhinal cortex, to posterior hippocampus, to anterior hippocampus and ventromedial prefrontal cortex. Critically, forgetting may be underpinned by different mechanisms at each level in the hierarchy, leading to different patterns of behaviour.

丰富的情节经历在大脑区域的不同网络中以分级方式表示，因此，忘记发作的方式可能也类似。使用新颖的实验方法和统计模型，最近的研究表明，基于项目的表示（例如与对象的颜色和形状有关的表示）会随着时间的流逝而碎片化，而基于高阶事件的表示可能会在更多的情况下被遗忘。整体统一的方式。我们提出了一个框架，以协调这些发现，其中复杂事件以分层的方式表示，从单个项目到小规模事件，再到大规模情节叙事。层次结构中的每个层次都代表着不同的大脑区域，从周围皮层到海马后部，到前海马和腹膜前额叶皮层。至关重要的是，忘记可能是由层次结构中每个级别的不同机制所支持的，从而导致不同的行为模式。