Grant: Foundation Grant

The medial temporal lobe (MTL) is a brain network that plays an important role in memory, spatial navigation, and social cognition. Pathology of this region has been observed in several neurological conditions, including temporal lobe epilepsy, the most common drug-resistant epilepsy in adults. In addition to seizures, epileptic patients often present with difficulties in memory and emotional wellbeing, likely due to damage to the MTL. Many patients undergo surgery to treat the seizures. However, some may show further memory deficits and emotional problems after the operation, which may ultimately impact their quality of life. This research program is centered on assessing whether these problems can be understood through a comprehensive evaluation of the anatomy and wiring of the different elements in the MTL. We will integrate high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging of MTL microstructure, function, and connectivity, and relate these markers with memory and emotion regulation scores obtained in behavioral studies. By studying epileptic patients before and after surgery, we can evaluate consequences of temporal lobe resection on brain networks mediating these cognitive and affective skills. The program builds on my expertise in studying the MTL and my experience in assessing how neuroimaging markers relate to cognitive outcomes in healthy and epileptic populations. It will provide a foundational account of how impairments following surgery can be understood and prevented. In particular, integrated investigations of the functional and psychological aspects of MTL anatomy will advance theoretical perspectives concerning the role of this brain network in memory and emotional processing. Our framework may help to predict surgical outcomes in epileptic patients, and identify candidates suitable for targeted rehabilitative therapies.