Neural substrates of recollection and familiarity
Neuropsychological and neuroimaging studies have shown that recollection and familiarity rely on partially distinct brain networks. For example, fMRI studies have indicated that within the medial temporal lobe the hippocampus and the parahippocampal cortex are involved in recollection, whereas the rhinal cortex (i.e., perirhinal/entrorhinal) supports familiarity.
Similarly, patient studies have indicated that selective damage to the hippocampus leads to a selective recollection deficit, whereas damage to the rhinal cortex leads to a selective familiarity deficit.
In addition, volumetric MRI studies have shown that hippocampal atrophy associated with normal aging leads to a deficit in recollection, whereas entorhinal volume is directly related to familiarity.