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London, UK – A groundbreaking study conducted by neurologists and neurosurgeons at University College London (UCL) has pinpointed the specific brain regions essential for word memory, shedding light on how these areas are affected by temporal lobe epilepsy. The research, published in the journal Brain Communications, reveals that shrinkage in the prefrontal, temporal, and cingulate cortices, as well as the hippocampus, correlates with significant difficulties in word recall.
This discovery is pivotal in understanding the distributed network responsible for creating and storing word memories. Notably, it holds significant implications for the treatment of epilepsy, where patients often experience verbal memory impairment. Researchers anticipate that these findings will enhance neurosurgical procedures by enabling surgeons to avoid damaging critical language and memory centers during operations.
Professor John Duncan (UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology), the study’s corresponding author, emphasized the importance of this research, stating, “Being able to remember and recall words is important for day-to-day memory to work well. Detailed MRI brain scans are used to find out the causes of epilepsy and can show if any parts of the brain are shrunken. By measuring the parts of the brain that are shrunken and how well a person can remember words, we can work out which parts of the brain are used for making and storing memories.”
The study involved 84 individuals with temporal lobe epilepsy and hippocampal sclerosis, along with 43 healthy participants. High-resolution MRI scans were utilized to measure the size and shape of various brain structures, including the cerebral cortex and specific hippocampal regions. Verbal memory was assessed using standardized tests from the Adult Memory and Information Processing Battery.
The researchers observed a clear correlation between reduced volume in specific brain areas and impaired word memory in epilepsy patients. These areas included the prefrontal, temporal, and cingulate cortices, as well as portions of the hippocampus.
Dr. Giorgio Fiore (National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, UCLH), the lead author, highlighted the clinical significance of the findings, stating, “This research is important as it helps us to understand how memory may fail and may help guide the designing of neurosurgical operations for epilepsy that will not make memory worse.”
The study’s findings provide valuable insights into the neural mechanisms underlying verbal memory and offer promising avenues for improving the quality of life for individuals with epilepsy.
More information: Giorgio Fiore et al, Cortico-hippocampal networks underpin verbal memory encoding in temporal lobe epilepsy, Brain Communications (2025). DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcaf067
Journal information: Brain Communications
Disclaimer: This news article is based on information provided by the UCL study and is intended for informational purposes only. It should not be interpreted as medical advice. Individuals with epilepsy or concerns about memory should consult with a qualified healthcare professional. Further research is ongoing, and medical advancements can change.
