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Stimulation of the Posterior Cingulate Cortex Impairs Episodic Memory Encoding
Vaidehi S Natu1, Jui-Jui Lin2, Alexis Burks2
1Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, and vaidehi.natu@utsouthwestern.edu.
Summary
Stimulating the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) during memory encoding impairs recall and alters hippocampal activity. This provides causal evidence for the PCC's role in memory and suggests new neuromodulation targets for memory disorders.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Science
- Neuromodulation
Background:
- The posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) is implicated in episodic memory, but causal evidence for its role in encoding is limited.
- Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a potential therapeutic strategy for memory disorders, targeting brain regions involved in mnemonic processing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the causal role of the PCC in episodic memory encoding using deep brain stimulation (DBS) and stereotactic electroencephalography (sEEG).
- To examine whether PCC stimulation modulates hippocampal activity and impacts memory recall.
- To explore the predictive value of functional connectivity in determining stimulation effects on memory.
Main Methods:
- Participants undergoing seizure mapping received DBS of the PCC during a verbal free recall task.
- Stimulation was applied during half of the study lists; memory performance and hippocampal activity (gamma-band power) were measured.
- Functional connectivity between the hippocampus and PCC was analyzed.
Main Results:
- PCC stimulation during encoding impaired subsequent free recall, particularly for early list items.
- Stimulation increased hippocampal gamma-band power, which predicted the magnitude of memory impairment.
- Hippocampal-PCC functional connectivity predicted the strength of the stimulation's effect on memory.
Conclusions:
- These findings provide the first causal evidence implicating the PCC in episodic memory encoding.
- Stimulation outside the temporal lobe can modulate hippocampal activity and affect behavior, highlighting the PCC as a target for neuromodulation.
- Connectivity measures can predict behavioral outcomes of stimulation, informing the development of therapies for memory disorders.
Keywords:
deep brain stimulationepisodic memoryfunctional connectivityhippocampusposterior cingulate cortexstereotactic electroencephalographyMore Related Videos
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