The creation and consolidation of a memory can rest on the integration of any number of possibly disparate features and contexts - colour, sound, emotion, arousal, context. How is it that these bind together to form a coherent memory? What is the role of binding in memory formation? What are the neural processes that underlie binding? Do these binding processes change with age?This book offers an unrivalled overview of one of the most debated hotspots of modern memory research: binding. It contains 28 chapters on binding in different domains of memory, presenting classic research from the field of cognitive neuroscience. It is written by renowned scientists and leaders in the field who have made fundamental contributions to the rapidly expanding field of neurocognitive memory research. As well as presenting a state-of-the-art account of recent views on binding and its importance for remembering, it also includes a review of recent publications in the area, of benefit to both students and active researchers. More than just a survey, it supplies the reader with an integrative view on binding in memory, fostering deep insights not only into the processes and their determinants, but also into the neural mechanisms enabling these processes. The content also encompasses a wide range of binding-related topics, including feature binding, the binding of items and contexts during encoding and retrieval, the specific roles of familiarity and recollection, as well as task- and especially age-related changes in these processes. A major section is dedicated to in-depth analyses of underlying neural mechanisms, focusing on both medial temporal and prefrontal structures. Computational approaches are covered as well.For all students and researchers in memory, the book will not only enhance their understanding of binding, but will instigate innovative and pioneering ideas for future research.
