The Role of Prefrontal Cortex in Episodic Memory: Non Invasive Brain Stimulation Studies

This master thesis is based upon two fundamental research projects, the results of which our thesis is triggered to replicate and to expand in terms of other targeted parameters (Kesteren et al., 2013; Medvedeva et al., 2018). As episodic, specifically associative memory and stimulation of deep brain areas is of a particular interest of our research group, the study of associative memory formation and retrieval via transcranial magnetic stimulation of ventromedial prefrontal cortex was chosen. This first study was replicated by our team according to protocol and stimulation at encoding and retrieval was applied as well as behavioral control group was collected (Kesteren et al., 2013). The second study is based upon research of episodic memory via anodal direct current stimulation and it is of a high interest because it investigates several parameters which may influence memory performance after stimulation (Medvedeva et al., 2018). We proposed to replicate conditions in which significant results were acquired and decided to adopt their protocol by stimulation of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex.