About me
Neural Mechanisms of Memory Retrieval Across Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders
Location: 56
Mentor: Mr. Mingbo Cai
Memory retrieval deficits are a key cognitive impairment across various neurological and psychiatric disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Despite their prevalence, the neural mechanisms underlying these impairments remain unclear due to the complexity and variability of brain dysfunction across conditions. This meta-analysis synthesizes findings from ten neuroimaging studies using functional MRI (fMRI), positron emission tomography (PET), and electroencephalography (EEG) to examine the neural correlates of memory retrieval across these disorders. The analysis focuses on converging dysfunctions in the medial temporal lobe (MTL), prefrontal cortex (PFC), and posterior parietal cortex (PPC), as well as disorder-specific patterns of neural activation and connectivity. Results show that reduced MTL activation, especially in the hippocampus, is commonly observed in Alzheimer’s disease and depression. Schizophrenia is more strongly associated with PFC dysfunction, suggesting impaired executive control during retrieval. PTSD presents distinct abnormalities in temporal and parietal regions, along with altered EEG oscillatory activity. Multimodal imaging findings reveal that memory retrieval deficits are not limited to isolated brain regions but also involve large-scale disruptions in networks such as the default mode and frontoparietal networks. These shared and disorder-specific neural signatures highlight both the commonalities and unique features of retrieval impairments. By integrating cross-diagnostic and multimodal evidence, these findings can advance our understanding of the neural basis of memory dysfunctions, support the development of more precise diagnostic frameworks, and inform targeted interventions to improve cognitive outcomes in affected individuals.
