Direct electrical stimulation mapping of cognitive functions in the human brain

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Psychology
• Neurosurgery

Background:

• Direct electrical stimulation (DES) is a clinical standard for mapping brain functions during awake neurosurgery and epilepsy monitoring.
• It is crucial for identifying epileptogenic tissue and defining safe surgical margins to prevent neurological deficits.

Discussion:

• DES has become a vital research tool over the past two decades for testing hypotheses on brain organization and cognitive mechanisms.
• It enables causal inferences about the necessity of specific brain regions for cognitive functions by creating transient functional "lesions".

Key Insights:

• DES supports causal inference regarding the necessity and separability of brain regions for sensory, motor, and cognitive processes.
• This method allows researchers to investigate the functional architecture of the human brain.

Outlook:

• This Special Issue highlights the utility of DES in advancing the understanding of normal brain organization and function.
• Future research will continue to leverage DES for detailed cognitive mapping and mechanistic studies.