A human memory circuit derived from brain lesions causing amnesia

Human memory is thought to depend on a circuit of connected brain regions, but this hypothesis has not been directly tested. We derive a human memory circuit using 53 case reports of strokes causing amnesia and a map of the human connectome (n = 1000). This circuit is reproducible across discovery (n = 27) and replication (n = 26) cohorts and specific to lesions causing amnesia. Its hub is at the junction of the presubiculum and retrosplenial cortex. Connectivity with this single location defines a human brain circuit that incorporates > 95% of lesions causing amnesia. Lesion intersection with this circuit predicts memory scores in two independent datasets (N1 = 97, N2 = 176). This network aligns with neuroimaging correlates of episodic memory, abnormalities in Alzheimer's disease, and brain stimulation sites reported to enhance memory in humans.

Keywords

EPISODIC MEMORY, DEFAULT-MODE, ALZHEIMERS-DISEASE, NEUROLOGICAL SYMPTOMS, HIPPOCAMPAL-FORMATION, NETWORK LOCALIZATION, CORTEX, STIMULATION, RETRIEVAL, ANATOMY

Citation

Ferguson, M.A., Lim, C., Cooke, D. et al. A human memory circuit derived from brain lesions causing amnesia. Nat Commun 10, 3497 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-11353-z

URI

http://hdl.handle.net/1803/10071

Collections

Interdisciplinary Sciences

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