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Time-dependent Increase in the Network Response to the Stimulation of Neuronal Cell Cultures on Micro-electrode Arrays
Published on: May 29, 2017
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Selective and coherent activity increases due to stimulation indicate functional distinctions between episodic memory
Sungshin Kim1,2,3, Aneesha S Nilakantan1, Molly S Hermiller1
1Department of Medical Social Sciences, Ken and Ruth Davee Department of Neurology, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, and Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
Science Advances
|August 25, 2018
Summary
Targeted brain stimulation selectively enhanced memory processing in the posterior-medial network, but not the anterior-temporal network. This confirms distinct roles for these networks in episodic memory formation.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Systems Neuroscience
Background:
- The hippocampus interacts with posterior-medial and anterior-temporal cortical networks to support episodic memory.
- A putative distinction exists in how these networks contribute to memory formation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To causally test the distinction between posterior-medial and anterior-temporal networks in supporting episodic memory.
- To determine if noninvasive stimulation could selectively modulate neural signals within the posterior-medial network during memory formation.
Main Methods:
- Noninvasive brain stimulation was applied to the posterior-medial network during memory formation tasks.
- Evoked neural responses and network activity were measured.
- Control stimulation was performed on the prefrontal cortex in a separate subject group.
Main Results:
- Stimulation significantly enhanced posterior-medial network activity during memory formation, showing coherence across the network.
- No comparable increase in anterior-temporal network activity was observed.
- Control stimulation did not affect activity in either network.
Conclusions:
- The posterior-medial network functions as a distinct unit for memory processing, separate from the anterior-temporal network.
- Targeted brain stimulation can induce network-specific excitability changes during memory formation.
- These findings suggest potential for brain stimulation to refine network involvement in episodic memory.
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