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Responses of human medial temporal lobe neurons are modulated by stimulus repetition

Neuroengineering researchers discover neuron activity changes with repeated viewings of the same image

Issued on 22 June 2009

Researchers from the Neuroengineering lab, within the Engineering Department at the University of Leicester, investigated how multiple presentations of the same image modulated neural responses elicited within the Medial Temporal Lobe (MTL). How memory is wired in the brain is a hot topic in neuroscience. The relevance of MTL structures, and especially an area called the Hippocampus, in declarative memory has been previously stated, but its exact role is still under discussion.

The study showed how these cells changed their activity during the experiment. These results contribute to the understanding of the role of these neurons in the formation of memories in our brain.

Intracraneal recordings in human MTL carried out in epileptic patients for clinical reasons give a unique opportunity to study the human brain at work. Studies of such patients performing a simple visual task have previously led to impressive discoveries such as invariant neural responses to abstract concepts (referred as the Jennifer Aniston neuron, given the responses found to this actress, and selected as one of the Top Science Stories of 2005 by Discover Magazine.).

Carlos said: “The study reveals that there are significant changes in the activity of these neurons between different presentations, which can be related to their contribution to memory processes, although further research is needed to understand this process better”. He added: “being able to watch the brain at work is a unique opportunity which helps us understand how we are able to remember what surrounds us”.

Carlos Pedreira will be presenting his research at the Festival of Postgraduate Research which is taking place on Thursday 25th June in the Belvoir Suite, Charles Wilson Building, University of Leicester between 11.30am and 1pm. This event is open to the public and is FREE to attend.

For more information contact Carlos Pedreira:

Email: cp155@le.ac.uk

Telephone: 0116 252 2872