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EEG Correlates of Memory in a Naturalistic Spatial Environment

Poster Session B - Sunday, March 8, 2026, 8:00 – 10:00 am PDT, Fairview/Kitsilano Ballroom

Joyce Li¹ (), Adam Broitman¹, Michael Kahana¹; ¹University of Pennsylvania

Prior studies have identified specific patterns of neural activity associated with successful encoding and retrieval. However, these effects were typically observed in highly controlled, non-naturalistic laboratory environments. In this study, we investigated whether behavioral and neural correlates of successful encoding and retrieval extend to a memory task within a naturalistic spatial environment. We recorded scalp EEG in 40 young adults (aged 18-30) as they navigated to different landmarks in a desktop virtual environment. Study items would appear both visually and auditorily during navigation, with subjects later recalling the items vocally. Behavioral data demonstrated typical primacy and recency effects, as well as the temporal organization of memory, consistent with findings reported from past research. Spectral EEG analyses also replicated previously characterized biomarkers of retrieval success. However, the same patterns did not emerge during encoding, possibly because the navigation task engaged neural resources that were also involved in memory processing, thereby complicating the relationship between EEG activity and subsequent mnemonic success. Future research seeking to translate neural markers of memory into practical tools for optimizing learning or remediating memory disorders should account for the complex relationship between measured neural activity and memory performance in real-world settings.

Topic Area: LONG-TERM MEMORY: Episodic