While in deep dreamless sleep, our hippocampus sends messages to
our cortex and changes its plasticity, possibly transferring
recently acquired knowledge to long-term memory. But how exactly
is this done? Scientists from the Max Planck Institute for
Biological Cybernetics have now developed a novel multimodal
methodology called "neural event-triggered functional magnetic
resonance imaging" (NET-fMRI) and presented the very first
results obtained using it in experiments with both anesthetized
and awake, behaving monkeys. The new methodology uses multiple-
contact electrodes in combination with functional magnetic
resonance imaging (fMRI) of the entire brain to map widespread
networks of neurons that are activated by local, structure-
specific neural events. Many invasive studies in nonhuman
primates and clinical investigations in human patients have
demonstrated that the hippocampus, one of the oldest, most
primitive brain structures, is largely responsible for the long
term retention of information regarding pl