Cortical Hubs of Highly Superior Autobiographical Memory

Poster Session B - Sunday, April 14, 2024, 8:00 – 10:00 am EDT, Sheraton Hall ABC

William Orwig^1,2 (williamorwig@g.harvard.edu), Ibai Diez², Elisenda Bueichekú², Tiziana Pedale^3,4, Fabrizio Parente³, Patrizia Campolongo⁴, Daniel Schacter¹, Jorge Sepulcre², Valerio Santangelo^3,5; ¹Harvard University, ²Massachusetts General Hospital & Harvard Medical School, ³Fondazione Santa Lucia, ⁴Sapienza University of Rome, ⁵University of Perugia

Highly Superior Autobiographical Memory (HSAM) is a rare form of enhanced memory in which individuals demonstrate an extraordinary capacity to remember details of their personal lives with high levels of accuracy and vividness. Neuroimaging studies have identified brain activation in cortical midline regions -specifically, key nodes within the default network- associated with remembering events from one’s past. Extending this research on the neural underpinnings of autobiographical memory, the present study utilizes graph theory analyses to compare functional brain connectivity in a cohort of HSAM (n=12) and healthy controls (n=29). We perform seed-based analysis based on resting-state fMRI data to assess how specific cortical regions within the autobiographical memory network are differentially connected in HSAM individuals. Additionally, we apply a whole-brain connectivity analysis to identify differences in brain hub-network topology associated with enhanced autobiographical memory. Results show converging patterns of increased connectivity involving cortical midline areas in HSAM. Whole-brain analysis also reveals enhanced connectivity across prefrontal and posterior cingulate cortices in HSAM individuals. Together, these results extend prior research, identifying essential cortical hubs within the default network associated with enhanced autobiographical memory.

Topic Area: LONG-TERM MEMORY: Episodic