Frontal cortex contributes to human memory formation
Randy L. Buckner, William M. Kelley
& Steven E. Petersen
Departments of Psychology, Radiology, Neurology and
Anatomy and Neurobiology, Washington University, Campus Box
1125, One Brookings Drive, St. Louis, Missouri
63130, USA
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.
