The neural systems that support episodic memory

Episodic memory, the ability to remember specific events and personal experiences that occur in one’s life, is a complex cognitive function that relies on the interaction of multiple brain regions, especially within the medial temporal lobe (MTL). The MTL consists of several structures, including the hippocampus, the entorhinal cortex, the perirhinal cortex and the parahippocampal cortex, that appear to play different roles in encoding, consolidating and retrieving episodic memories.

In this talk I will give an overview of work investigating the neural bases of episodic memory using various methods including eye tracking, neuroimaging and neuropsychology. I will present recent findings that demonstrate the functional heterogeneity of the MTL, the thalamus and beyond. I will also highlight evidence indicating that memory encoding involves multiple processes influenced by the type of novelty detected during learning. Specifically, recent functional neuroimaging and neuropsychological findings emphasise the diverse role of the structures of the medial temporal lobes (MTL) in recognition memory. They also suggest that functional specialisation within these structures is determined by the kind of memory engaged at retrieval and the type of the cuing stimulus. Critically, these structures do not function in isolation but a complex combination of subcortical regions (especially the thalamus), neurotransmitter systems (in the midbrain) and cortical structures appear to work together to support memory.

Guest Speaker

Alex is currently a Lecturer in Cognitive Neuroscience, in the Division of Psychology, Communication & Human Neuroscience, investigating long-term memory and amnesia. His research aims to explore both theoretical and translational questions in human memory. His expertise includes the cognitive neuroscience of memory, amnesia and ageing. In his studies, Alex explores the neural substrates of long-term memory and the various factors that affect memory encoding and retrieval.

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