Prof. Dr. Katharina Henke

Conscious and unconscious episodic memory. 

Our findings suggest that the human hippocampal formation specializes in the rapid establishment of new conceptual associations between items in memory. Associations are the building blocks of episodic memory. The hippocampal formation mediates the rapid encoding of new associations even when encoding (and later retrieval) are carried out without conscious awareness of encoding (and retrieval). Patients with hippocampal damage are impaired at encoding relational information both consciously and unconsciously. Hence, hippocampus is necessary for rapid relational encoding at all awareness levels. Given that flexible associations are the building blocks of episodic memory, we conjecture that humans possess episodic memories at all levels of consciousness.  

Role of sleep stages and sleep parameters in memory consolidation and in memory encoding during sleep. 

We study the consolidation of consciously and unconsciously wake-acquired memories in healthy individuals and brain damaged patients during daytime naps using polysomnographic recordings. A recent focus is on verbal memory encoding during sleep.

Superiority of unconscious versus conscious information processing. 

When a lot of information needs to be encoded, weighed and integrated to arrive at valid decisions, unconscious processing may outplay conscious processing because of the limited workspace of consciousness. We are testing this hypothesis in a series of experiments using masked presentations of movies.  

Brill, E., Krebs, C., Falkner, M., Peter, J., Henke, K., Züst, M., Minkova, L., Brem, A.K., Klöppel, S. Can a serious game-based cognitive training attenuate cognitive decline related to Alzheimer's disease? Protocol for a randomized controlled trial. BMC Psychiatry. 2022 Aug 12;22(1):552.

Studer, M., Guggisberg, A.G., Gyger, N., Gutbrod, K., Henke, K. & Heinemann, D. (2024). Accelerated long-term forgetting in patients after acquired brain injury. Brain Injury, in press, https://doi.org/10.1080/02699052.2024.2311349. IF: 2.2.

Schmidig, F.J., Ruch, S., Henke, K. (2023). Episodic long-term memory formation during slow-wave sleep. eLife 12:RP89601. https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.89601.1. IF: 8.7.

Pacozzi, L., Knüsel, L., Ruch, S., Henke, K. (2022). Inverse forgetting in unconscious episodic memory. Scientific Reports, published online, https://rdcu.be/c0Fwe. IF: 4.4.

Ruch, S., Schmidig, F.J., Knüsel, L. & Henke, K. (2022). Closed-loop modulation of local slow oscillations in human NREM sleep. Neuroimage, Oct 11;119682. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2022.119682. Published online ahead of print. IF: 6.5.

Orth, M., Wagnon, C., Neumann-Dunayevska, E., Kaller, C.P., Klöppel, S., Meier, B., Henke, K., Peter, J. (2022). The left prefrontal cortex determines relevance at encoding and governs episodic memory formation. Cerebral Cortex, published online ahead of print on March 7, 2022, https://doi.org/10.1093/cercor/bhac088. IF: 5.4.

Ruch, S., Zuest, M., Henke, K. (2022). Sleep-learning impairs subsequent wake-learning. Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, 187:107569. doi: 10.1016/j.nlm.2021.107569. IF: 3.24.

Willems, T., Henke, K. (2021). Imaging human engrams using 7 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging. Hippocampus, 31(12), 1257-1270. https://doi.org/10.1002/hipo. 23391. IF: 3.9.

Schneider, E., Züst, M., Wuethrich, S., Kloeppel, S., Wiest, R., Schmidig, F., Ruch, S., Henke, K. (2021). Larger capacity for unconscious versus conscious episodic memory. Current Biology, 31, 3551–3563. IF: 9.5.

Ruch, S., Henke, K. (2020). Learning during sleep – a dream comes true? Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 24, 170-172. IF: 15.4.

Züst, M.A., Ruch, S., Wiest, R., Henke, K. (2019). Implicit vocabulary learning during sleep is bound to slow-wave peaks. Current Biology, 29, 541–553. IF: 9.3.

Wuethrich, S., Hannula, D.E., Mast, F., Henke, K. (2018). Subliminal encoding and flexible retrieval of objects in scenes. Hippocampus, 28(9):633-643. IF: 3.9.

Ruch, S., Herbert, E., Henke, K. (2017). Subliminally and supraliminally.acquired long-term memories jointly bias delayed decisions. Frontiers in Psychology, 8:1542. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01542. IF: 2.3.

Henke, K. (2017). Choosing the hard road. Science, 255 (6321), 218. IF: 34.

Ruch, S., Züst, M.A., Henke, K. (2016). Subliminal messages exert long-term effects on decision-making. Neuroscience of Consciousness, 1–9. doi: 10.1093/nc/niw013. IF: 2.2.

Reber, T.P., DoLam, A., Axmacher, N., Elger, C.E., Henke, K., Fell, J. (2016). Intracranial EEG correlates of implicit relational inference within the hippocampus. Hippocampus, 26, 54-66. doi: 10.1002/hipo.22490 . IF: 4.3.

Soravia, L., Witmer, J., Schwab, S., Nakataki, M., Dierks, T., Wiest, R., Henke, K., Federspiel, A., Jann, K. (2015). Pre-stimulus default mode activity influences depth of processing and recognition in an emotional memory task. Human Brain Mapping, in press. IF: 6.0.

Nickel, A.E., Henke, K., Hannula, D.E. (2015). Relational memories are evident in eye movement behavior following subliminal memory cues. PLoS ONE, 10(10):e0141677. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0141677. IF: 3.5.

Züst, M.A., Colella, P., Reber, T.P., Vuilleumier, P., Hauf, M., Ruch, S., Henke, K. (2015). Hippocampus is place of interaction between unconscious and conscious memories. PLoS ONE, 10(3), e0122459. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0122459. IF: 3.5.

Ruch, S., Koenig, T., Mathis J., Roth, C., Henke, K. (2014). Word encoding during sleep is suggested by correlations between word-evoked up-states and post-sleep semantic priming. Frontiers in Psychology, doi: 10.3389/ fpsyg.2014.01319.  IF: 2.84.

Duss, S.B., Reber, T.P., Hänggi, J., Schwab, S., Wiest, R., Müri, R.M., Brugger, P., Gutbrod, K., Henke, K. (2014). Unconscious Relational Encoding Depends on Hippocampus. Brain, 137, 3355-3370. IF: 10.23.

Stein M., Rohde, K.B., Henke, K. (2015). Focus on emotion as a catalyst of memory updating during reconsolidation. Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 38:e27. doi: 10.1017/S0140525X14000314. IF: 18.

Lüthi, M., Henke, K., Gutbrod, K., Nyffeler, T., Chaves, S., Müri, R.M. (2014). In your eyes only: Deficits in executive functioning after frontal TMS reflect in eye movements. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, volume 8, article 7. Doi: 10.3389/fnbeh.2014.00007. IF: 4.8.

Reber, T.P., Luechinger, R., Boesiger, P., Henke, K. (2014). Detecting analogies to unconscious memories. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, volume 8, article 9. Doi: 10.3389/fnbeh.2014.00009. IF: 4.8.

Henke, K., Reber, T.P., Duss, S.B. (2013). Integrating events across levels of consciousness. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, volume 7, article 68. Doi: 10.3389/fnbeh.2013.00068. IF: 4.8.

Ruch, S., Markes, O., Duss, S.B., Reber, T.P., Koenig, T., Mathis, J., Roth, C., Henke, K. (2012). Sleep stage II contributes to the consolidation of declarative memories. Neuropsychologia, 50, 2389-2396. IF: 3.5.

Reber, T.P., Luechinger, R., Boesiger, P., Henke, K. (2012). Unconscious relational inference recruits the hippocampus. Journal of Neuroscience, 32, 6138-6148. IF: 7.0.

Reber, T.P., Henke K. (2012). Integrating unseen events over time. Consciousness and Cognition, 21, 953-60.  IF: 2.2.

Reber, T.P., Henke K. (2011). Rapid formation and flexible expression of memories of subliminal word pairs. Frontiers in Psychology, volume 2, article 343. Doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2011.00343. IF: 2.8.

Duss, S. & Henke, K. (2011). Bewusstsein für Lernen unnötig. Spektrum der Wissenschaft, Januar Heft.

Duss, S.B., Oggier, S., Reber, T.P., Henke, K. (2011). Formation of semantic associations between subliminally presented face-word pairs. Consciousness and Cognition, 20, 928-935. IF: 2.2.

Meier, B., König, A., Parak, S., Henke, K. (2011). Suppressed but not forgotten. Swiss Journal of Psychology, 70 (1), 5-11. IF: 0.8.

Papassotiropoulos, A., Henke, K., Stefanova, E., et al. (2011). A genome-wide survey of human short-term memory. Molecular Psychiatry, 16, 184-192. IF: 15.2.

Henke, K. (2010). A model for memory systems based on processing modes rather than consciousness. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 11, 523-532. IF: 31.4.

Hänggi, J., Mondadori, C.R.A., Buchmann, A., Henke, K., Hock, C. (2011). A CYP46 T/C SNP modulates parahippocampal and hippocampal morphology in young subjects. Neurobiology of Aging, 32, 1023-1032. IF: 6.0.

Hänggi, J., Buchmann, A., Mondadori, C.R.A., Henke, K., Jäncke, L., Hock, C. (2010). Sexual dimorphism in the parietal substrate associated with visuospatial cognition independent of general intelligence. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 22, 139-155. IF: 4.7.

Buchmann, A., Mondadori, C.R.A., Hänggi, J., Aerni, A., Vrticka, P., Luechinger, R., Boesiger, P., Hock, C., Nitsch, R.M., de Quervain, D. J.-F., Papassotiropoulos, A., Henke, K. (2008). Prion protein M129V polymorphism affects retrieval-related brain activity. Neuropsychologia, 46, 2389-2402. IF: 3.5.

Huentelman, M.J., Papassotiropoulos, A., Craig, D.W., Hoerndli, F.J., Pearson, J.V., Huynh, K.-D., Corneveaux, J., Hanggi, J., Mondadori, C.R.A., Buchmann, A., Reiman, E.M., Henke, K., de Quervain, D.J.-F., Stephan, D.A. (2007). Calmodulin-binding transcription activator 1 (CAMTA1) alleles predispose human episodic memory performance. Human Molecular Genetics, 16, 1469-1477. IF: 7.7.

Mondadori, C.R.A., de Quervain, D. J.-F., Buchmann, A., Mustovic, H., Wollmer, M.A., Schmidt, C.F., Boesiger, P., Hock, C., Nitsch, R.M., Papassotiropoulos, A., Henke, K. (2007). Better memory and neural efficiency in young Apolipoprotein E ε4 carriers. Cerebral Cortex, 17, 1934-1947. IF: 8.3.

Papassotiropoulos, A., Stephan, D.A., Huentelmann, M.J., Hoerndli, F.J., Craig, D.W., Pearson, J.V., Huynh, K.-D., Brunner, F., Corneveaux, J., Osborne, D., Wollmer, M.A., Aerni, A., Coluccia, D., Haenggi, J., Mondadori, C.R.A., Buchmann, A., Reiman, E.M., Caselli, R.J., Henke, K., de Quervain, D.J.-F. (2006). Common KIBRA alleles are associated with human memory performance. Science, 314, 475-478. IF: 31.5.

Mondadori, C.R.A., Buchmann, A., Mustovic, H., Schmidt, C.F., Boesiger, P., Nitsch, R.M., Hock, C., Streffer, J., Henke, K. (2006). Enhanced brain activity may precede the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease by 30 years. Brain, 129 (Pt 11), 2908-2922. IF: 10.2.

Koller, M.F., Papassotiropoulos, A., Henke, K., Behrends, B., Noda, S., Kratzer, A., Hock, C., Hofmann, M. (2005). Evidence of a genetic basis of Morgagni-Stewart-Morel Syndrome. Neurodegenerative Diseases, 2, 56-60. IF: 3.5.

Bosshardt, S., Degonda, N., Schmidt, C.F., Boesiger, P., Nitsch, R.M., Hock, C., Henke, K. (2005). One month of human memory consolidation enhances retrieval-related hippocampal activity. Hippocampus, 15, 1026-1040. IF: 5.5.

Papassotiropoulos, A., Henke, K., Aerni, A., Coluccia, D., Garcia, E., Wollmer, M.A., Huynh, K.-D., Monsch, A.U., Stähelin, H.B., Hock, C., Nitsch, R.M., de Quervain, D. J.-F. (2005). Age-dependent effects of the 5-hydroxytryptamine-2a-receptor polymorphism (His452Tyr) on human memory. NeuroReport, 16, 839-842. IF: 1.65.

Degonda, N., Mondadori, C.R.A., Bosshardt, S., Schmidt, C.F., Boesiger, P., Nitsch, R.M., Hock, C., Henke, K. (2005). Implicit associative learning engages the hippocampus and interacts with explicit associative learning. Neuron, 46, 505-520. IF: 16.0.

Schmidt, C.F., Degonda, N., Luechinger, R., Henke, K., Boesiger, P. (2005). Sensitivity-encoded (SENSE) echo planar fMRI at 3 T in the medial temporal lobe. NeuroImage, 25, 625-641. IF: 6.3.

Daumann, J., Fischermann, T., Heekeren, K., Henke, K., Thron, A., Gouzoulis-Mayfrank, E. (2005).  Memory-related hippocampal dysfunction in poly-drug ecstasy (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine) users. Psychopharmacology, 180, 607-611. IF: 4.0.

Bosshardt, S., Schmidt, C.F., Jaermann, T., Degonda, N., Boesiger, P., Nitsch, R.M., Hock, C., Henke, K. (2005). Effects of memory consolidation on human hippocampal activity during retrieval. Cortex, 41, 486-498. IF: 6.2.

De Quervain D. J.-F., Henke, K., Aerni, A., Coluccia, D., Wollmer, M.A., Hock, C., Nitsch, R.M., Papassotiropoulos, A. (2003). A functional genetic variation of the 5-HT2a receptor affects human memory. Nature Neuroscience, 6, 1141-1142. IF: 15.0.

Hock, C., Konietzko, U., Streffer, J.R., Tracy, J., Signorell, A., Müller-Tillmanns, B., Lemke, U., Henke, K., Moritz, E., Garcia, E., Wollmer, M.A., Umbricht, D., de Quervain, D.J.-F., Hofmann, M., Maddalena, A., Papassotiropoulos, A., Nitsch, R.M. (2003). Antibodies against b-amyloid slow cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s disease. Neuron, 38, 547-554. IF: 16.0.

Henke, K., Treyer, V., Weber, B., Nitsch, R.M., Hock, C., Wieser, H.G., Buck, A. (2003). Functional neuroimaging predicts individual memory outcome after amygdalohippocampectomy. NeuroReport, 14, 1197-1202. IF: 1.65.

De Quervain, D. J.-F., Henke, K., Aerni, A., Treyer, V., McGaugh, J.L., Berthold, T., Nitsch, R.M., Buck, A., Roozendaal, B. & Hock, C. (2003). Glucocorticoid-induced impairment of declarative memory retrieval is associated with reduced blood flow in the medial temporal lobe. European Journal of Neuroscience, 17, 1296-1302. IF: 3.8.

Henke, K., Mondadori, C., Treyer, V., Nitsch, R.M., Buck, A. & Hock, C. (2003). Nonconscious formation and reactivation of semantic associations by way of the medial temporal lobe. Neuropsychologia, 41, 863-876. IF: 3.5.

Henke, K., Treyer, V., Turi Nagy, E., Kneifel, S., Dürsteler, M., Nitsch, R.M., & Buck, A. (2003). Active hippocampus during nonconscious memories. Consciousness and Cognition, 12, 31-48. IF: 2.2.

Wollmer, M.A., Papassotiropoulos, A., Streffer, J., Grimaldi, L.M.E., Kapaki, E., Salani, G., Paraskevas, G.P., Maddalena, A., de Quervain, D., Bieber, C., Umbricht, D., Lemke, U., Bosshardt, S., Degonda, N., Henke, K., Hegi, T., Jung, H.H., Pasch, T., Hock, C. & Nitsch, R.M. (2002). Genetic polymorphisms and cerebrospinal fluid levels of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 1 in sporadic Alzheimer’s disease. Psychiatric Genetics, 12, 155-160. IF: 2.4.

Wieser, H.G., Henke, K., Zumsteg, D., Taub, E., Yonekawa, Y., & Buck, A. (1999). Activation of left motor cortex during left leg movements following right central resection. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry, 67, 487-491. IF: 4.5.

Henke, K., Weber, B., Kneifel, S., Wieser, H.G., & Buck, A. (1999). Human hippocampus associates information in memory. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA, 96, 5884-5889. IF: 9.8.

Henke, K., Kroll, N.E.A., Behniea, H., Amaral, D.G., Miller, M.B., Rafal, R., & Gazzaniga, M. S. (1999). Memory lost and regained following bilateral hippocampal damage. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 11, 682-697. IF: 4.7.

Henke, K., Schweinberger, S.R., Grigo, A., Klos, T., & Sommer, W. (1998). Specificity of face recognition: recognition of exemplars of non-face objects in prosopagnosia. Cortex, 34, 289-296. IF: 6.2.

Henke, K., Weber, B., Schwedler, K., Kneifel, S., Berthold, T., Wieser, H.G., & Buck, A. (1999). PET studies of memory. Schweizer Archiv für Neurologie und Psychiatrie , 150, 89-96.

Henke, K., Buck, A., Weber, B., & Wieser, H.G. (1997). Human hippocampus establishes associations in memory. Hippocampus, 7, 249-256. IF: 5.5.

Henke, K. & Wieser, H.G. (1996). Bilateral medial temporal lobe damage without amnesic syndrome: a case report. Epilepsy Research, 24, 147-161. IF: 2.2.

Henke, K., Landis, T., & Markowitsch, H.J. (1994). Subliminal perception of words and faces. International Journal of Neuroscience, 75, 181-187. IF: 1.5.

Henke, K., Landis, T., & Markowitsch, H.J. (1993). Subliminal perception of pictures in the right hemisphere. Consciousness and Cognition, 2, 225 - 236. IF: 2.2.