Yunqing Li MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Qing X. Yang PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Paul J. Eslinger PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Christopher Sica PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Ping Li PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Purpose:MTL is known to be involved in declarative memory. In particular, the hippocampus plays a crucial role in forming associations, but other surrounding cortical regions, is controversial. We used fMRI to measure brain activity during learning and recognition of novel face-name pairs to investigate the role of the hippocampus and the nearby MTL.   

Methods: Subject: Eight, health adults. Paradigms: Block design. From Encoding to Distracter to Recognition 4 times, twice male faces, twice female faces, total of 16 faces, total time was 8'. Encoding: First presented a string of four faces (one at a time), with a name below each face. To silently memorize each face and name with it. Baseline: Then, a distracter were saw “+” and “0” in alternation. Recognition: Then, presented four faces (one at a time) with all four names listed below each face. To decide which of the four names would go with each face as they remembered in the encoding task. fMRI Protocol: 3T MRI; EPI; TR/TE/FA =2000ms/30ms/900; FOV=230×230×120mm3; Matrix 80×80; 30 axial slices; slice thickness=4mm; Repetitions number:174. T1-wighted axial structural image was collected. Data Processing and Analysis: SPM8. Activation maps of encoding vs.baseline; encoding vs.recognition; successful encoding vs.baseline; successful recognition vs.baseline, successful encoding vs.successful recognition , all  vice versa, were received using a paired t-test (p<0.001).  

Results: For the encoding successful vs. recognition successful, the great activation was in the right parehippocampus and right superior and middle temporal. Additionally, the strong activities in the left superiror and middle temporal lobe and left hippocampus and left parahippocampus and left pulvinar nucleus of the thalamus and bilateral fusiform in recognition vs. encoding of successful responds.  

Conclusions: During successful recognition of face-name association, the higher level of left hippocampal activation was strongly correlated, supporting the idea that interactions between the hippocampus and neocortex contribute to associative memory. The increased pulvinar nucleus of left thalamus gyrus responses may indicate a neural substrate for memory consolidation of long-term knowledge and a potentially specific binding pathway.

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Li, Y, Yang, Q, Eslinger, P, Sica, C, Li, P, An fMRI Study of the Role of Hippocampal Formation during Face-naming Recognition Successful Associations.  Radiological Society of North America 2012 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 25 - November 30, 2012 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2012/12035101.html