The role of mediotemporal structures in the interaction of working memory and long-term memory

临床和病变数据，以及影像学和颅内脑电图研究结果表明，中颞叶（MTL）结构对陈述性长期记忆（LTM）形成的初始过程至关重要。我们自己之前的数据表明，特别是鼻皮质和海马之间的同步过程对于LTM的成功形成至关重要。传统上，人们认为MTL结构专门支持LTM，但不支持工作记忆（WM）。然而，最近的研究结果表明，MTL结构也参与了WM过程，特别是当WM导致LTM形成时。我们建议通过术前癫痫患者的MTL深度记录来研究WM和LTM之间的相互作用。这种方法提供了关于人类MTL神经过程的直接信息，具有其他方法无法比拟的时间和空间精度。患者将进行四项与事件相关的实验，包括WM和LTM处理。目的是指定脑电图特征，特别是振荡模式，伴随着正确与不正确的WM处理，结合成功与不成功的LTM形成。这些数据将为WM和LTM相互作用的神经基础和机制提供新的思路。

Clinical and lesion data, as well as results from imaging and intracranial EEG studies, have shown that mediotemporal lobe (MTL) structures are essential for the initial processes underlying declarative long-term memory (LTM) formation. Our own previous data indicated that in particular synchronization processes between rhinal cortex and hippocampus are crucial for successful LTM formation. Traditionally, MTL structures were thought to specifically support LTM, but not working memory (WM). Recent findings, however, have demonstrated that MTL structures are involved in WM processes as well, in particular, when WM leads to LTM formation. We propose to investigate the interaction between WM and LTM by MTL depth recordings in presurgical epilepsy patients. This approach provides direct information about neural processes in the MTL in humans with a temporal and spatial precision unmatched by other methods. Patients will perform four event-related experiments that comprise both, WM and LTM processing. The aim is to specify EEG characteristics, in particular oscillatory patterns, which accompany correct vs. incorrect WM processing in combination with successful vs. non-successful LTM formation. These data will shed new light on the neural bases and the mechanisms of interaction of WM and LTM.