Abstract
A debated question in the literature is the degree of anatomical and functional lateralization of the executive control processes sub-served by the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) during recognition memory retrieval. We investigated if transient inhibition and excitation of the left and right DLPFC at retrieval by means of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) modulate recognition memory performance in 100 healthy controls (HCs) and in eight patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). Recognition memory tasks of faces, buildings, and words were used in different experiments. rTMS-inhibition of the right DLPFC enhanced recognition memory in both HCs and MCIs. rTMS-excitation of the same region in HCs deteriorated memory performance. Inhibition of the right DLPFC could modulate the excitability of a network of brain regions, in the ipsilateral as well as in the contralateral hemisphere, enhancing function in HCs or restoring an adaptive equilibrium in MCI.
Highlights
The role of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) in recognition memory retrieval has been well documented (e.g., Simons and Spiers, 2003; Squire, 2004)
Our results indicate that repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) over the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) significantly improves non-verbal recognition memory performance without any significant modulation of speed of response
This study investigated the effects of rTMS over left and right DLPFC at retrieval in verbal and non-verbal recognition memory tests
Summary
The role of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) in recognition memory retrieval has been well documented (e.g., Simons and Spiers, 2003; Squire, 2004). The HERA model— Hemispheric Encoding Retrieval Asymmetry (e.g., Tulving et al, 1994; Habib et al, 2003) suggests that the left PFC plays a crucial role in encoding, whereas right PFC is necessary for retrieval (but see Spaniol et al, 2009). This pattern of lateralization can be influenced by the use of retrieval strategies. A recent study showed that during memory retrieval the right DLPFC is preferentially recruited if memory strategies are used to guide episodic retrieval, whereas when the subject does not apply a retrieval strategy there is a shift to the left DLPFC (Manenti et al, 2010)
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