# Using deep brain stimulation of the parietal cortex to investigate the electrophysiology of human episodic memory

> **NIH NIH R01** · UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER · 2021 · $79,818

## Abstract

Project Summary
Our proposal seeks to build upon the success of our lab investigating the electrophysiology of human
memory through novel experiments that will elucidate hippocampal—parietal interactions in memory
processing. The key innovations of this proposal are the application of direct brain stimulation to the
mesial parietal cortex and the adaptation of an associative recognition paradigm to intracranial data.
We will take advantage of our high-volume epilepsy surgical center specializing in stereo EEG
electrode implantation. In our first aim, we will compare how electrophysiological patterns of brain
activation differ between free recall (which comprises the bulk of intracranial memory data) and
associative recognition, specifically examining properties of theta oscillations in the anterior versus
posterior hippocampus. In the second aim, we will apply deep brain stimulation to the mesial parietal
cortex during memory encoding and retrieval, observing differences in memory performance and
hippocampal oscillatory activity that will inform hypotheses of how this area supports episodic
memory. In Aim 3, we will use machine learning classifiers to understand how mesial parietal
stimulation affects memory performance via its impact on brain oscillatory activity in a responsive
stimulation paradigm. These experiments will utilize our lab’s knowledge and infrastructure gained
through participation in the DARPA Restoring Active Memory project. While our proposal is highly
innovative, our center’s proven success in recruiting a large volume of stereo EEG patients for
memory research, data collection, and the application of advanced analytic techniques give us
confidence that we will collect high quality data addressing the critical gaps in the understanding of
human memory.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10348398
- **Project number:** 3R01NS107357-03S1
- **Recipient organization:** UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Bradley C Lega
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $79,818
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2018-09-01 → 2023-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10348398

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10348398, Using deep brain stimulation of the parietal cortex to investigate the electrophysiology of human episodic memory (3R01NS107357-03S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10348398. Licensed CC0.

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