The Brain's Engram: Memorising Experiences and Experiencing Memory

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The brain is able to retain a myriad of perceptual experiences in the memory for shorter and longer durations of time. Memory formation requires the selection of relevant items in working memory, and the consolidation of the experience into a lasting neural representation. At the same time, memory retrieval appears to involve the reactivation of the neural processes of memory formation. In this course, students will discuss the neuroscience of working memory and episodic memory, and in how far these types of memory rely on similar neural mechanisms and brain networks. The role of prefrontal cortex as well as the hippocampal complex in memory formation and retrieval will be discussed in detail. The literature comprises cutting-edge empirical research papers from various neuroscience disciplines, including cognitive neuroimaging, neurophysiological recording, pharmacological manipulation and neurobiological fields.