Novel brain prosthesis can partially restore memory

Physicians improve the memory with a prosthesis

Unfortunately, memory degrades in the course of life. But even an accident can, for example, cause damage to the brain and memory, so that important information is forgotten. Researchers have now succeeded in developing a novel approach to memory restoration. For this, the experts use a kind of prosthesis.

Scientists at the Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center have developed a prosthesis designed to restore memory. The physicians published the results of their study in the English-language journal "Journal of Neural Engineering".

Especially in old age memory diminishes. A new prosthesis developed by doctors could counteract this now. (Image: Alexander Raths / fotolia.com)

Memory has been increased by 35 percent

The newly developed prosthesis uses technology that allows the prosthesis to increase memory storage by about 35 percent compared to a previous baseline measurement. This research has for the first time used a novel approach to memory recovery that may be able to compensate for memory lapses and memory loss in the future. Instead of trying to reverse memory loss, the prosthesis improves memory's ability by writing its own brain cell code into memory, the experts explain.

First step to restore memory loss

First, the scientists identified the brain cell code (brain cell pattern) of the patients. So they could then use this code to improve the existing memory. This was an important first step in restoring memory loss, study author Professor Robert Hampson from the Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.

Prosthesis improves short-term memory

The prosthesis causes an improvement in the short-term memory (also called episodic memory, in which the brain initially stores small pieces of information), which is first influenced by Alzheimer's and other memory disorders. The participants in the current study were patients with epilepsy. The medics tried to find out where the origins of seizures were in the brain. In addition, the same implanted electrodes were also used to perform a series of tests for the memory study.

Episodic memory has been increased by 37 percent

During the first test, the participants completed a memory task while the research team recorded their neural firing patterns (referred to in the study as "code"). The researchers then analyzed this code to determine which memory patterns led to correct answers. Then they put the patterns into the brains of the participants (especially in the hippocampus, where new memories are created), while the subjects completed another memory task, resulting in an increase in episodic memory by 37 percent.

Subjects could remember pictures better

At the next test the subjects were asked to remember a photo. They then had to identify this image over an hour later between a series of similar photos. Again, researchers recorded participants' neural activities and analyzed them to identify the patterns that led to the correct responses. When they inserted this code back into the brains of the participants, their memory improved by 35 percent compared to the core values.

Memory contents can be strengthened

The memory content of a patient can be read out, amplified and then ultimately referred back to the patient, explains Professor Hampson. Even if a person's memory is impaired, it is possible to identify the neural signal patterns that indicate correct memory formation and separate them from the wrong patterns. Then these correct patterns can be fed in to support the patient's brain in accurately creating new memories. This process should not be a substitute for innate memory function, but serve as reinforcement for the memory, adds the expert.

Storage capacity can be increased

Since it was an implant study, the treatment is not suitable for use in the broad mass. Rather, such implants are a first step to possibly develop a tool for people with disorders and injuries that have already harmed the brain, explain the researchers. At the present time, the results of the study already show that the brain's memory code can be identified, recorded and manipulated to increase storage capacity. (As)