High feature overlap reveals the importance of anterior and medial temporal lobe structures for learning by means of fast mapping.

Contrary to traditional theories of declarative memory, it has recently been shown that novel, arbitrary associations can rapidly and directly be integrated into cortical memory networks by means of a learning procedure called fast mapping (FM), possibly bypassing time-consuming hippocampal-neocortical consolidation processes. In the typical FM paradigm, a picture of a previously unknown item is presented next to a picture of a previously known item and participants answer a question referring to an unfamiliar label, thereby incidentally creating associations between the unknown item and the label. However, contradictory findings have been reported and factors moderating rapid cortical integration through FM yet need to be identified.

High feature overlap and incidental encoding drive rapid semantic integration in the fast mapping paradigm.

Contrary to traditional theories, it has been shown that novel, arbitrary associations can be rapidly integrated into cortical networks through a learning paradigm called (FM), possibly bypassing time-consuming hippocampal-neocortical consolidation processes. In the FM paradigm, an unknown item is presented next to a known item and participants answer a question referring to an unfamiliar label, presumably inferring that the label belongs to the unknown item. However, factors driving rapid cortical integration through FM are still under debate.

Evidence for fast mapping in adults - Moderating factors yet need to be identified.

Cooper, Greve, and Henson (this issue) discuss if (FM) is dissociable from other learning procedures in adults. We strongly agree that drawing conclusions on cortical integration from recognition accuracy is questionable in healthy young adults. Additionally, we advise against interpreting explicit measures in patient studies if residual hippocampal functioning cannot be excluded or extra-hippocampal structures are also affected.

Homogeneity of item material boosts the list length effect in recognition memory: A global matching perspective.

Kinnell and Dennis (2012) showed that the list length effect in recognition memory is only observed for homogeneous stimulus material. On the basis of the global matching model MINERVA 2 (Hintzman, 1986, 1988), we offer a theoretical explanation for this finding. According to our analysis, homogeneous material immunizes against the disruptive influence of preexperimental items, which might mask the intralist interference predicted by global matching models for familiar heterogeneous material.