How the human brain creates and retrieves memories

Josep Dalmau Obrador

Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Hospital Clínic, Universitat de Barcelona, Spain

Certain neurological disorders are due to an alteration of immunological defense mechanisms known as antibodies. These defenses, in the fight against microbes that cause infections, attack the brain’s neurons and cause disorders. The second most common disease of this type of disorder is LGI1 antibody encephalitis, which was described for the first time in 2010. Its identification revolutionized the diagnosis and treatment of a category of diseases unknown until then.

This disease causes alterations both in long-term memory and working memory, resulting in cognitive impairments. These patients are unable to create their own memories, handle new information and suffer from alterations in their sleep.

This project aims to correlate, in these people and animal models of the disease, the neuronal activity of brain structures with cognitive impairments through neuroimaging and electrophysiological techniques. The goal is to understand the mechanisms of formation, consolidation and recovery of memory in this disease, and other similar neurological pathologies, in order to obtain personalized therapies.

Neuronal circuits, and the mechanisms of memory loss and recovery

€498,718