The Computational and Neural Mechanisms Linking Decision-making and Memory in Humans

Description

Learning to make good decisions in the present, and accurately recalling events and information from the past, are critical aspects of human cognition that are often impaired in many psychiatric disorders. This project aims to identify the how the choices individuals make influence what, and how, people remember by combining disparate techniques in computational modeling and direct brain recordings in human subjects. The researcher developed a dual-task paradigm, probing how decisions in one task affect immediate recognition memory. To examine the neural mechanisms underlying model-free RL's influence on memory, the researcher will record local field potential (LFP) and single neuron activity in various brain regions as epilepsy patients perform the proposed task. The results of this project will identify specific neurocomputational mechanisms unifying decision-making and memory processes.

Conditions

Memory, Short-Term

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Study Overview

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Study Details

Study overview

Learning to make good decisions in the present, and accurately recalling events and information from the past, are critical aspects of human cognition that are often impaired in many psychiatric disorders. This project aims to identify the how the choices individuals make influence what, and how, people remember by combining disparate techniques in computational modeling and direct brain recordings in human subjects. The researcher developed a dual-task paradigm, probing how decisions in one task affect immediate recognition memory. To examine the neural mechanisms underlying model-free RL's influence on memory, the researcher will record local field potential (LFP) and single neuron activity in various brain regions as epilepsy patients perform the proposed task. The results of this project will identify specific neurocomputational mechanisms unifying decision-making and memory processes.

The Computational and Neural Mechanisms Linking Decision-making and Memory in Humans

The Computational and Neural Mechanisms Linking Decision-making and Memory in Humans

Condition
Memory, Short-Term
Intervention / Treatment

-

Contacts and Locations

New York

Mount Sinai West, New York, New York, United States, 10024

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

For general information about clinical research, read Learn About Studies.

Eligibility Criteria

  • * Has seizure activity which is deemed non-responsive to standard pharmacological intervention(s), as determined by treating Neurologist and established clinical practices
  • * Has elected to receive clinically indicated intracranial EEG (electrocorticography (ECoG), stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG)) and/or temporal responsive neurostimulation (RNS) for medication-refractory epilepsy outside of this research study, as determined by treating clinician(s) and per current clinical practice
  • * Capacity to provide written informed consent
  • * Language proficiency in English or Spanish
  • * Willing and able to comply with all study-related procedures
  • * History of psychosis, such as in the context of depressive or manic episode.
  • * Active suicidal ideation with intent, suicide attempt within the last six months, or other serious suicide risk
  • * Inability to provide informed consent or reliably participate in study assessments, as per the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA; score \< 26) or in the opinion of the evaluating neuropsychologist.
  • * Individuals unwilling or unable to undergo electrode implantation procedures
  • * Medical contraindications to neurosurgery or for general anesthesia, neurosurgery, or an MRI scan (required for electrode implantation)
  • * Neurological disorder other than epilepsy or other significant brain pathology, if contraindicated in the opinion of implanting neurosurgeon.
  • * Women who are pregnant

Ages Eligible for Study

18 Years to 65 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Collaborators and Investigators

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey,

Salman E Qasim, PhD, PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR, Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai

Study Record Dates

2028-09-01