Insights into neural basis of human memory derived from intracranial recordings

Intracranial recordings offer unparalleled spatiotemporal resolution in the study of human memory. In this chapter, we highlight key intracranial recording studies that have provided major new insights into the neural mechanisms of spatial memory, working memory, episodic memory, and emotional memory. We discuss the clinical scenarios that have been used to examine memory in humans and highlight key single neuron, field potential, and electrical stimulation studies. We summarize how single cell studies have by now revealed several functional cell types including spatially tuned cells, concept cells, visually selective cells, and memory selective cells that jointly provide cellular level insight into the architecture of human memory. At the whole-brain level, we emphasize that inter-areal interactions mediated by oscillations are a critical part of human memory, thereby highlighting the interaction of different memory, perceptual, and cognitive systems in the service of memory.