Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 16, 2026
11:30
Brain Imaging Investigation of the Neural Correlates of Emotional Autobiographical Recollection
Published on: August 26, 2011
The time course of ventrolateral prefrontal cortex involvement in memory formation.
Maro G Machizawa1, Roger Kalla, Vincent Walsh
1Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, London, WC1N 3AR, UK.
Journal of Neurophysiology
|January 22, 2010
Summary
This study shows that stimulating the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex is crucial for forming new long-term memories. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) revealed this brain region
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Neurobiology
- Psychology
Background:
- Human neuroimaging studies link ventrolateral prefrontal cortex to long-term memory formation.
- The precise role and temporal dynamics of this region in memory encoding remain under investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if ventrolateral prefrontal cortex is essential for new memory formation using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS).
- To investigate the time course of ventrolateral prefrontal cortex involvement during memory encoding.
Main Methods:
- Healthy adults performed an incidental word encoding task (living/nonliving judgments).
- Double-pulse TMS was applied to left/right anterior inferior frontal gyrus or vertex control site at 350, 750, or 1,150 ms post-word onset.
- Recognition memory and confidence judgments were tested after a 15-minute delay.
Main Results:
- TMS to all tested sites non-specifically impacted encoding task speed and accuracy.
- Stimulation of bilateral inferior frontal gyrus significantly reduced subsequent word recognition by approximately 4% across all time points.
- No significant difference was observed between left and right inferior frontal gyrus stimulation.
Conclusions:
- Bilateral ventrolateral prefrontal cortex plays a critical role in long-term memory formation.
- This crucial role is exerted between 350 ms and 1,150 ms after encountering an event.
Related Concept Videos
01:14Role of Cerebellum and Prefrontal Cortex in Memory
The cerebellum, while traditionally associated with motor control, also plays a crucial role in memory, particularly in procedural memory, which involves learning motor tasks that become automatic through repetition. For example, studies have shown that when the cerebellum is damaged, individuals or animals lose the ability to learn conditioned motor responses, such as the conditioned eye-blink response in classical conditioning experiments with rabbits. This study demonstrates the cerebellum's...
01:19Role of Hippocampus in Memory
The hippocampus, a critical brain structure, plays an essential role in memory processing, particularly in the formation and retrieval of memory. This small, seahorse-shaped region is located within the medial temporal lobe, with one hippocampus in each brain hemisphere. Experimental studies involving lesions in the hippocampi of rats have demonstrated significant impairments in tasks such as object recognition and maze navigation, indicating the hippocampus involvement in both recognition and...
01:16Role of Amygdala in Memory
The amygdala is a small, almond-shaped structure responsible for processing and storing memories, particularly those linked to emotions like fear and stress. It plays an essential role in the brain's response to emotionally significant events and often enhances memory formation by triggering stress hormone release. The amygdala is vital for encoding and retrieving memories associated with fear or stress, a process that is adaptive by helping organisms avoid dangerous situations.
One of the...
One of the...
01:26Higher Mental Functions of Brain: Learning and Memory
Memory is one of the most vital higher mental functions of the brain. Memory is closely related to learning because it enables us to retain information and experiences from our past to use them in our present life. It also helps us to remember facts, events, and skills, such as riding a bike or swimming. There are two types of memory — declarative memory, which involves memorizing facts or events, and procedural memory, which enables us to remember how to do something like writing or playing an...
01:18Long-Term Memory
Long-term memory is a relatively permanent type of memory, capable of storing vast amounts of information over extended periods. Its storage capacity is generally considered unlimited.
Long-term memory can be categorized into two primary types: explicit and implicit memory. Explicit memory, also known as declarative memory, involves the conscious recollection of information that we deliberately try to remember, recall, and articulate. This type of memory encompasses specific facts, events, and...
Long-term memory can be categorized into two primary types: explicit and implicit memory. Explicit memory, also known as declarative memory, involves the conscious recollection of information that we deliberately try to remember, recall, and articulate. This type of memory encompasses specific facts, events, and...
01:24Working Memory
Working memory refers to a combination of components, including short-term memory and attention, that allow an individual to hold information temporarily as we perform cognitive tasks. It is an essential cognitive function that enables the execution of complex tasks such as problem-solving, comprehension, and reasoning. Unlike short-term memory, which simply involves the storage of information for a brief period, working memory involves the active manipulation and processing of this information.