Cited by 472Memory and Neural MechanismsMemory Processes and InfluencesNeural dynamics and brain function

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Concept cells: the building blocks of declarative memory functions

Quiroga, Rodrigo Quian·2012·Nature reviews. Neuroscience

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Abstract

Intracranial recordings in subjects suffering from intractable epilepsy - made during their evaluation for an eventual surgical removal of the epileptic focus - have allowed the extraordinary opportunity to study the firing of multiple single neurons in awake and behaving human subjects. These studies have shown that neurons in the human medial temporal lobe respond in a remarkably selective and abstract manner to particular persons or objects, such as Jennifer Aniston, Luke Skywalker or the Tower of Pisa. These neurons have been named 'Jennifer Aniston neurons' or, more recently, 'concept cells'. I argue that the sparse, explicit and abstract representation of these neurons is crucial for memory functions, such as the creation of associations and the transition between related concepts that leads to episodic memories and the flow of consciousness.

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Authors: Quiroga, R. Q.
Affiliations: University of Leicester (GB)
Corresponding author: Quiroga, Rodrigo Quian
ORCID: Quiroga, Rodrigo Quian
Venue: Nature reviews. Neuroscience
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published: 2012-07-04
Volume: 13
Issue: 8
Pages: 587-597
ISSN: 1471-003X (ISSN-L)
1471-0048
DOI: 10.1038/nrn3251
OpenAlex: W2040309074
Cited by: 472
References: 124
Citations by year: 2026: 39 · 2025: 50 · 2024: 26 · 2023: 36 · 2022: 27 · 2021: 38 · 2020: 39 · 2019: 59 · 2018: 22 · 2017: 30 · 2016: 23 · 2015: 33 · 2014: 30 · 2013: 16 · 2012: 4
FWCI: 2.10
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
Locations: Nature reviews. Neuroscience (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Leicester Research Archive (University of Leicester) (submittedVersion)
Topics: Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory and Neural Mechanisms
Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory Processes and Influences
Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural dynamics and brain function
Keywords: medial temporal lobe, declarative memory, episodic memory, single-unit recording, drug-resistant epilepsy, object recognition, person recognition, memory associations, stream of consciousness
MeSH terms: Animals, Concept Formation, Humans, Memory, Nerve Net, Neural Pathways, Temporal Lobe, Synaptic Potentials

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Concept cells: the building blocks of declarative memory functions

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