Deconstructing Brain Systems Involved in Memory and Spatial Skills

According to research published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, a small region of the brain’s limbic system is dedicated largely to memory formation, and not to spatial skills, such as navigation. “The role of the hippocampus in spatial cognition versus memory formation is a major debating point in our understanding of how the human brain processes its exterior environment,” said the study’s lead author. “This study shows that the hippocampus is primarily associated with memory. It’s an adjudication on two perspectives that span more than 60 years of research.” The results of the study are based on experiments with six adults with hippocampal lesions, one adult with damage to the medial temporal lobe — which includes the hippocampus — and 12 control subjects. For the experiments, participants were asked to study a simple scene, such as a pair of boots, and to draw the scene from memory. In a second set of experiments, participants were asked to look at a scene, such as a slide in a park, and describe what might come into view if the image were enlarged. The participants’ narratives were scored for details, spatial references, thoughts and emotions. All participants with hippocampal damage demonstrated an impaired ability to accurately recall details about the boots, however both groups were equally skilled in imagining and constructing detailed narratives about what might come into view if the scenes were expanded. By conducting this type of research, scientists can gain a better understanding of how the brain works. To read more about this study, click here.