Stimulating the Hippocampal posteriormedial network enhances task-dependent connectivity and memory

Kristen N. Warren, Molly S. Hermiller, Aneesha S. Nilakantan, Joel L. Voss

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

20 Scopus citations

Abstract

Successful episodic memory involves dynamic increases in activity across distributed hippocampal networks, including the posterior-medial (PMN) and the anterior-temporal (ATN) networks. We tested whether this up-regulation of functional connectivity during memory processing can be enhanced within hippocampal networks by noninvasive stimulation, and whether such task-dependent connectivity enhancement predicts memory improvement. Participants received stimulation targeting the PMN or an out-of-network control location. We compared the effects of stimulation on fMRI connectivity during an autobiographical retrieval task versus during rest within the PMN and the ATN. PMN-targeted stimulation significantly increased connectivity during autobiographical retrieval versus rest within the PMN. This effect was not observed in the ATN, or in either network following control stimulation. Task-dependent increases in connectivity within the medial temporal lobe predicted improved performance of a separate episodic memory test. It is therefore possible to enhance the task-dependent regulation of hippocampal network connectivity that supports memory processing using noninvasive stimulation.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numbere49458
JournaleLife
Volume8
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2019

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Immunology and Microbiology(all)
  • Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology(all)
  • Neuroscience(all)

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