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Frontal cortex contributes to human memory formation

Nature Neuroscience volume 2, pages 311–314 (1999)Cite this article

Abstract

The contribution of medial temporal lobe structures to memory is well established. However recent brain-imaging studies have indicated that frontal cortex may also be involved in human memory formation. Specific frontal areas are recruited during a variety of procedures that promote memory formation, and the laterality of these areas is influenced by the type of information contained in the memory. Imaging methods that capture momentary changes in brain activity have further shown that the likelihood of memory formation correlates with the level of activity in these areas. These results, taken in the context of other studies, suggest that memory formation depends on joint participation of frontal and medial temporal lobe structures.

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Figure 1: A lateral view of the human brain schematically illustrates frontal regions active during tasks that promote memorization of verbal materials.
Figure 2: Frontal regions active during memory encoding may depend on the materials being memorized.
Figure 3: Activity within frontal regions can predict which items will be remembered or forgotten.

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Acknowledgements

Neal Cohen, Anthony Wagner, David Donaldson, Jessica Logan and Amy Sanders provided comments. This work was supported by grants from the National Institute of Mental Health (MH57506-01), the McDonnell Center for Higher Brain Function and the Human Frontiers Science Program.

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  1. Departments of Psychology, Radiology, Neurology and Anatomy and Neurobiology, Washington University, Campus Box 1125, One Brookings Drive, St. Louis, 63130, Missouri, USA

    Randy L. Buckner, William M. Kelley & Steven E. Petersen

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Correspondence to Randy L. Buckner.

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Buckner, R., Kelley, W. & Petersen, S. Frontal cortex contributes to human memory formation. Nat Neurosci 2, 311–314 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1038/7221

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