Neurons detect cognitive boundaries to structure episodic memories in humans

TitleNeurons detect cognitive boundaries to structure episodic memories in humans
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2022
AuthorsZheng, J, Schjetnan, AGP, Yebra, M, Gomes, BA, Mosher, CP, Kalia, SK, Valiante, TA, Mamelak, AN, Kreiman, G, Rutishauser, U
JournalNature Neuroscience
Volume25
Issue3
Pagination358 - 368
Date Published03/2022
ISSN1097-6256
Abstract

While experience is continuous, memories are organized as discrete events. Cognitive boundaries are thought to segment experience and structure memory, but how this process is implemented remains unclear. We recorded the activity of single neurons in the human medial temporal lobe (MTL) during the formation and retrieval of memories with complex narratives. Here, we show that neurons responded to abstract cognitive boundaries between different episodes. Boundary-induced neural state changes during encoding predicted subsequent recognition accuracy but impaired event order memory, mirroring a fundamental behavioral tradeoff between content and time memory. Furthermore, the neural state following boundaries was reinstated during both successful retrieval and false memories. These findings reveal a neuronal substrate for detecting cognitive boundaries that transform experience into mnemonic episodes and structure mental time travel during retrieval.

URLhttps://www.nature.com/articles/s41593-022-01020-w
DOI10.1038/s41593-022-01020-w
Short TitleNat Neurosci

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