一項(xiàng)研究發(fā)現(xiàn)，正如鏡像神經(jīng)元幫助人們解釋其他人的行動(dòng),，一組稱為CA1神經(jīng)元的大腦細(xì)胞可能在自我意識(shí)方面起到了重要作用,，人們長(zhǎng)久以來知道大腦的參與記憶處理的區(qū)域——海馬區(qū)調(diào)控著自傳體記憶的提取，但是參與到回憶起過去經(jīng)歷的心理印象的準(zhǔn)確的神經(jīng)回路尚不確定,。
Thorsten Bartsch及其同事比較了健康人和患有一種罕見的暫時(shí)遺忘癥的病人提取多至40年前的情景記憶的能力,。當(dāng)這組作者要求這些受試者詳細(xì)描述40年間的一些時(shí)間點(diǎn)上的與一個(gè)人、家庭,、工作或旅行有關(guān)的經(jīng)歷過的事件的時(shí)候,，遺忘癥病人表現(xiàn)出了提取他們的生活中的事件記憶的能力顯著削弱。
利用磁共振成像,，這組作者發(fā)現(xiàn)大多數(shù)病人的海馬區(qū)的含有CA1神經(jīng)元的區(qū)域有高度限制的損傷,，這提示這些神經(jīng)元可能在自我意識(shí)方面起到了作用，而自我意識(shí)部分依賴于回憶起遙遠(yuǎn)過去的事件的能力,。這組作者說,，由于已經(jīng)有了阿茲海默病早期階段的病人CA1神經(jīng)元退化的報(bào)告，這些發(fā)現(xiàn)可能有助于更好地理解常常折磨著這些病人的遺忘癥,。（生物谷 Bioon.com）
doi:10.1073/pnas.1110266108
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CA1 neurons in the human hippocampus are critical for autobiographical memory, mental time travel, and autonoetic consciousness
Thorsten Bartsch, Juliane Dhring, Axel Rohr, Olav Jansen, and Günther Deuschl
Autobiographical memories in our lives are critically dependent on temporal lobe structures. However, the contribution of CA1 neurons in the human hippocampus to the retrieval of episodic autobiographical memory remains elusive. In patients with a rare acute transient global amnesia, highly focal lesions confined to the CA1 field of the hippocampus can be detected on MRI. We studied the effect of these lesions on autobiographical memory using a detailed autobiographical interview including the remember/know procedure. In 14 of 16 patients, focal lesions in the CA1 sector of the hippocampal cornu ammonis were detected. Autobiographical memory was significantly affected over all time periods, including memory for remote periods. Impairment of episodic memory and autonoetic consciousness exhibited a strong temporal gradient extending 30 to 40 y into the past. These results highlight the distinct and critical role of human hippocampal CA1 neurons in autobiographical memory retrieval and for re-experiencing detailed episodic memories.
