記憶を正しく思い出すための脳のしくみ

Brain Mechanism for Successful Memory Retrieval

脳損傷患者を対象とした神経心理学的研究の結果から，複数の記憶システムの分類化と関連脳領域について理解が深められてきた。本稿では，特に長期記憶に分類される意味記憶について，近年急速に進展している脳機能イメージング法と電気生理学的手法を用いた研究を紹介し，記憶想起における脳領域間・脳領域内神経回路の最新の知見を紹介する。

Abstract

Previous neuropsychological studies that investigated patients with brain injury have revealed the presense of multiple memory systems and the related brain regions. Recent functional imaging studies have identified a neuronal network including the temporal cortex and hippocampus that is responsible for the retrieval of semantic memory. This memory network was further investigated by electrophysiology using a simultaneous recording technique. This new technique revealed that a coupling of inter-area top-down signal within the temporal cortex with translaminar signal processing is required for successful memory retrieval of visual objects.