Temporal Attention Modulates EEG Spectral Correlates of Successful Memory Encoding

The current study investigates whether changes in scalp electroencephalographic (EEG) activity over time reflect the effects of target detection and divided attention on memory encoding. We recorded EEG activity in 61 young adults as they memorized lists of words either under full attention (single-task) or while performing a secondary task (dual-task). In both cases, colored squares appeared with each word. However, in the dual-task condition participants also pressed a button when the colored squares were in a predefined color (target) but made no response when the squares were in a different color (distractor). Subsequent memory effects in the alpha (8-12 Hz) and high gamma (50-100 Hz) frequency bands changed throughout the trial, and these effects differed across conditions. Prior to word presentation, high gamma activity was associated with encoding success in the target and single-task conditions, but not in the distractor conditions. In contrast, alpha band activity decreased following word presentation, and these decreases were greater for successfully encoded words in the target condition than in the distractor or single-task conditions. The results are consistent with the view that alpha and gamma activity reflect distinct neural processes which both contribute to memory formation, but are differentially sensitive to task demands and momentary shifts in attention.