A major scientific breakthrough
Scientists at Wake Forest University School of Medicine and the University of Southern California (USC) have made a breakthrough in the field of neuroscience. They demonstrated, for the first time, the successful use of a Neural Prosthesis Device To recall specific memories. This research published online in Frontiers in Computational NeuroscienceIt builds on an earlier 2018 study led by Robert Hampson, Ph.D., which previously demonstrated the effectiveness of a prosthetic system based on a person’s own memory patterns.
How does it work?
The current study developed a new model to help the hippocampus, the brain region involved in forming new memories. The researchers used recordings of brain cell activity to create a memory decoding model (MDM), which allows the decoding of neuronal activity that stores specific information. Neuronal activity is thus decoded Used to generate code, then applied as neurostimulation to the hippocampus when the brain tries to store information.
Promising results
The study involved 14 adults with epilepsy who underwent a diagnostic brain mapping procedure with surgically implanted electrodes. MDM electrical stimulation was delivered during visual recognition tasks to test its effectiveness on memory. The results were remarkable: Memory improvement was noted in about 22% of casesand impaired memory function in about 40% of participants, stimulated on both sides of the brain.
Towards a therapeutic application
The researchers’ goal is to develop an intervention that can restore memory function lost due to diseases such as Alzheimer’s, stroke or head trauma. Brent Roeder, Ph.D., the study’s corresponding author, plans to refine the technology to help people live independently, reminding them of important information like taking medications or locking the door.
Foundations and funding of research
The work, led by Sam Deadwiler, Ph.D., in collaboration with Hampson’s team at Wake Forest and a team at USC, Eng. Biomedical Theodore Berger, Ph.D. and Dong Song, Ph.D. Highlighting the strategic importance of these findings, the project was funded by the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).
The implications of this research are broad and promising, paving the way for new therapies for memory disorders. However, further research is needed to refine this technology and fully explore its therapeutic potential. This advance represents an important step toward understanding and manipulating human memory, with the hope of improving the quality of life for millions of people affected by memory disorders.
