Electrophysiological Correlates of Episodic Memory Processes

The ability to remember an event relies on a complex interplay of processes that we are only beginning to understand. Event-related potential (ERP) studies have proven to be powerful tools in the delineation of these processes, and have provided insights into the nature and identity of the operations that support the encoding and retrieval of different kinds of events. This chapter first considers methodological issues in the use of ERPs to study memory and suggests how the ERP method can be used optimally to address psychologically relevant questions. Next, it presents a selective overview of the contributions of ERP research to the study of human long-term memory, focusing specifically on episodic memory retrieval, which supports memory for personally experienced events.