How the brain links events to time and place for autobiographical memory
Associative Processes in Episodic Memory
This project looks at how adults form and replay memories of events by recording brain activity during virtual-reality experiences and later recall.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11142399 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would take part in immersive virtual-reality sessions and later try to remember what you experienced while researchers record your brain signals with scalp EEG (and, for some neurosurgical patients, intracranial electrodes already in place). The team combines computer models with pattern-analysis of the electrical signals to find moments when memories are reactivated or rehearsed. They will link those neural replay events to how well you recall items and to choices you make that depend on memory. Findings come from both healthy adult volunteers and patients undergoing clinical monitoring for neurosurgery.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are adults (21+) who can complete virtual-reality tasks and EEG recordings, including healthy volunteers and neurosurgical patients with implanted electrodes as part of their care.
Not a fit: People with severe cognitive impairment, inability to tolerate virtual reality or EEG, or who cannot travel to the research site are unlikely to benefit from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could clarify why some memories are lost or rearranged and point toward new ways to support memory in people with memory problems.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has used EEG and virtual-reality paradigms to read out memory signals with promising results, but decoding spontaneous neural replay and linking it to decision-making is a more novel direction.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- University of Pennsylvania — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kahana, Michael Jacob — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Kahana, Michael Jacob
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.