Prof. Nanthia Suthana | Neural Dynamics of Human Memory in the Real World

Human memory is typically studied under highly controlled laboratory conditions, yet memories are formed and retrieved while we actively navigate complex, dynamic environments. In this talk, I will present our efforts to bridge this gap by developing wearable and mobile neuroscience platforms that enable investigation of human brain activity during natural behavior. Combining intracranial recordings, eye tracking, motion capture, virtual and augmented reality, and synchronized physiological monitoring, our work examines the neural dynamics underlying spatial navigation, episodic memory, and emotional learning in real-world settings. I will highlight recent findings demonstrating how hippocampal and medial temporal lobe activity supports memory formation and retrieval during naturalistic behavior, and discuss how these insights are being translated into closed-loop neurostimulation approaches for disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder. Together, these studies illustrate how moving neuroscience beyond the laboratory can provide new mechanistic insights into human cognition and inform the development of targeted brain therapies.

Poster