Exploring the mnemonic functions of the human hippocampal formation using a novel disruption technique

Abstract

The n-Back Working Memory (WM) task, which requires participants to continuously update their mental set while simultaneously responding to a stimulus presented n stimuli previous, appears to evoke robust deactivations of the parahippocampal and hippocampal gyri in healthy participants. Given the importance of Medial Temporal Lobe (MTL) structures for certain types of memory, we reasoned that the deactivation of these structures should interfere with the acquisition of information depending on MTL activation.