PROJECT SUMMARY Mnemonic strategy implementation has proven useful for cognitively healthy people but also for people with episodic memory impairments due to normal aging, brain injuries, and neurodegeneration. Although recently there has been emphasis on studying more diverse and representative samples in cognitive psychology and neuroscience, little research has applied a cultural approach to study memory strategies. Culture can shape the way one thinks about the self, known as self-construal, which can have major implications for cognition. Thinking about the self can enhance memory via the self-reference effect, a strategy that relies on relating information to oneself. Context features of to-be-encoded events that can be used to enhance episodic memory may be attended to differently across cultures, potentially affecting episodic memory. However, the mechanisms by which culture impacts the effectiveness of these memory strategies has not been investigated. We address this gap in the literature by investigating multiple cultural groups in the U.S. The specific aims of the project are to advance understanding of how self-referencing and context impact memory, as well as the neural activity that supports these benefits in memory, in culturally diverse samples. An independent self, considered separate from and unique from others, characterizes non-Hispanic White samples whereas Chinese and Latino samples tend to be more interdependent, conceptualizing the self in terms of relationships with others. We will test to what extent cultural group and associated factors impact self-reference and context effects in episodic memory in non-Hispanic Whites, 2nd generation Chinese Americans, and 2nd generation Mexican Americans, the two largest racial and ethnic minority groups in the U.S; thereby moving beyond the East- West comparisons typical of culture work. Although these 2nd generation groups have many aspects of self- construal in common, there are important differences, such as emotional expressivity. We will explore culture group differences in the content of episodic memories, and the potential heterogeneity of 2nd generation samples by considering the roles of cultural and language identity, and stress on memory outcomes. We will measure behavioral memory performance and brain activity during episodic encoding and retrieval (ERP and Encoding- Retrieval Similarity Analyses) to distinguish mechanisms of strategy implementation from processes specific to memory success, allowing us to understand how culture impacts episodic memory. Not only will the project diversify and expand our study populations but should the effectiveness of these memory strategies depend upon culture, it would suggest a need to update and advance current memory theories to incorporate the influence of these factors. Furthermore, understanding cultural differences in the use of memory strategies can support effective cognition and independence across the lifespan, revealing wh...