Study Shows How the Brain Recalls What Turns It On

Most researchers had thought that specific memories were spread out over large groups of brain cells, or neurons. However, the new study showed that small clusters of cells responded to specific objects, such as Jennifer Aniston or the Sydney Opera House, regardless of changes in their overall appearance, and sometimes just by seeing the name. The findings should provide insight into the still unknown mechanism by which new memories are stored and how those memories are recalled.

"When we see an object, the brain first has to process the geometric shape. But that's not enough. The brain also has to invoke all the memory associations that actually give it meaning," said Johns Hopkins University neuroscientist Charles E. Connor, who did not participate in the study. "We don't just take in information, we use it."

The researchers studied eight patients who had 100 tiny electrodes implanted in their brains before epilepsy surgery to identify the source of their seizures. Before surgery, however, researchers used the electrodes to test each individual's ability to recognize faces and other objects.

The electrodes were implanted in the region of the brain known as the hippocampus, which is important for forming and recalling memories. Nearby temporal lobe regions process signals from the eyes, combining basic colors and shades into recognizable objects. These regions are informally described as the "what" visual pathway because of their role in determining what we're seeing.

The electrodes recorded neuron activation while researchers showed patients images of different things (such as Berry, Aniston or the opera house) or different images of the same thing (such as a drawing of Berry and a photo of her in Catwoman's skintight black vinyl).

The neurons had clear favorites. A "Halle Berry" cell fired primarily for Berry pictures, a "Jennifer Aniston" cell primarily for Aniston. These neurons responded to different images of their favorite, even though the patterns of colors and shapes, hairstyles and wardrobes changed considerably from picture to picture. Specific features were ignored, but the general concept was recognized.