9604559 Kairiss This project examines the connections between two brain regions that are known to be involved in memory functions, the amygdala and perirhinal cortex. It is not known how these areas interact during the storage and recall of memories. The project addresses this question by examining the details of how these areas are connected, how they communicate with each other, and how one might modulate the ability of the other to store information. It is believed that memories are formed in the brain when the connections between nerve cells change their effectiveness, thereby increasing or decreasing the communication between them. This project examines whether signals from the amygdala control how memories are formed in the cortex by influencing this process in the cortical nerve cells. Insights gained from these studies advance the understanding of the mechanisms by which different parts of the brain interact during information processing and storage. Such insights are fundamental to advancing our knowledge of how humans and artificial intelligence systems learn new information, store it, and recall it when needed.
