Deep Brain Stimulation and Memory Enhancement

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a minimally invasive surgical approach that involves the direct application of electrical stimulation to targeted brain regions via electrodes. The aim of DBS is to modulate neural activity and circuits in specific brain targets, and it has been widely used to treat chronic conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, essential tremors, dystonia, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. In recent years, there has been growing interest in exploring the potential of DBS to treat memory-related disorders, following the discovery of its potential to enhance memory recall. Over the past decade, DBS of the Papez circuit, which is a crucial area for memory formation, has been the focus of research aimed at understanding its therapeutic potential. However, current stimulation parameters used in DBS of the Papez circuit have only provided limited improvement for patients with clinical dementia, and the underlying mechanisms of DBS-induced memory improvement remains elusive. This article provides a comprehensive review of the continued relevance of the Papez circuit in memory processes and evaluates the progress and limitations of current preclinical and clinical trials exploring DBS of the fornix and entorhinal cortex. The goal is to shed light on the current state of the field and identify areas for future research.