Mismatch Negativity Predicts Pattern Separation

We are so tuned to sensory changes that we can detect novelty within hundreds of milliseconds. To what extent does our capacity to automatically discriminate auditory inputs influence encoding of long-term memories? We recorded mismatch negativity (MMN), an event-related potential (ERP) indexing perceptual discrimination, as participants were presented with sound patterns while watching a muted movie. MMN strength predicted how well naive listeners separated the previously heard from new micropatterns on a subsequent recognition test, providing evidence that the MMN translates into mnemonic pattern separation. Our investigation is the first to show that our capacity to discriminate auditory inputs, as measured by MMN, gives rise to unique memories.