Deep brain stimulation modifies memory

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<div data-thumb = "https://3c1703fe8d.site.internapcdn.net/newman/csz/news/tmb/2019/2-deepbrainsti.jpg" data-src = "https: //3c1703fe8d.site.internapcdn. net / newman / gfx / news / 2019/2-deepbrainsti.jpg "data-sub-html =" The location of the posterior cingulate cortex, stimulated brain area.Credit: Natu et al., JNeurosci 2019 ">

Deep cerebral stimulation of the cingulate cortex aggravates the recall of memory, according to a study conducted in patients with epilepsy and published in JNeurosci. This technique could be a way to target specific areas of the brain in the treatment of memory disorders.

Vaidehi Natu and colleagues at the Southwestern Medical Center of the University of Texas have stimulated the posterior cingulate cortex, a region of the brain involved in memory, using electrodes inserted into the brain of patients with epilepsy to treat convulsions. Participants were shown a word list distracted and asked to remember the words.

Natu's team discovered that stimulation of the cingulate cortex reduced the number of recalled words and modified brain waves of the hippocampus compared to the lack of stimulation. This establishes a direct role for the cingulate cortex in the encoding of memory and demonstrates that the memories can be manipulated via deep brain stimulation, which has implications for the treatment of memory disorders.