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Associative memory (AM) is conceptualized as the ability to form links between two previously unrelated pieces of information so that the subsequent presentation of one activates the memory of the other. Unlike other types of memory for which standardized assessment tools exist, AM is assessed mostly by ad hoc tasks designed to tackle specific research questions that are not meant to capture AM as a universal cognitive ability. Typically, AM is assessed using paired-associate paradigms with unimodal (e.g., word pairs) or multimodal (e.g., face-word) stimuli sets. In culturally diverse and multilingual societies, the application of these paradigms can lead to an unreliable and biased assessment of memory abilities. To address this issue, we developed an AM paradigm that combines key aspects of AM assessment – associative encoding, associative recognition, and cued recall, as well as implicit AM effect. The stimuli for the task - pictures of common objects and natural scenes - have been selected to minimize language and culture effects. The task has been developed using free software (OpenSesame) and stimuli, in both online and offline mode of administration, thus enabling wide and free use for research purposes across different settings. The large-scale international collaboration is set to adapt the task into 25 languages so far, including Arabic, Bosnian, Czech, Catalan, Chinese, Croatian, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hungarian, Italian, Lithuanian, Malay, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Serbian, Slovak, Slovene, and Spanish. Data is collected across 26 countries with a total of 34 samples (150-300 participants each) to assess the psychometric properties of the task and crosslinguistic (in)variance of the memory performance. The collaboration is expected to result in a comprehensive multilingual AM assessment tool, that is freely available for research use.

Social touch may modulate emotions, but the neurobehavioral correlates are poorly understood. Here, we investigated neural responses to a picture of a deceased close person and if neural activity and connectivity are modulated by social touch from one's romantic partner. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) we found altered reactivity in several brain areas including the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and the anterior insula in response to the personal picture compared to a picture of an unfamiliar person. Hand holding with the romantic partner, compared to being alone, reduced reactivity in the ACC and cerebellum and provided subjective comfort. To separate physical touch from the emotional effect of partner presence, we evaluated hand holding with the partner relative to a stranger, and found reduced reactivity in the anterior insula. Connectivity between the anterior insula and the ACC was reduced during partner touch, and the connectivity strength were negatively related to attachment security, with higher reported partner security associated with weaker connectivity. Overall, holding hands with one's partner attenuates reactivity in emotional brain areas and reduces between-region connectivity.