The causal role of the prefrontal cortex in episodic memory as demonstrated with rTMS

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) can be directly used to test the prediction of the hemispheric encoding retrieval asymmetry (HERA) model—that is, neural activity of prefrontal cortex during an episodic memory task is asymmetric. This chapter clarifies the role of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex(s) (DLPFC) during encoding and retrieval memory process using TMS technique. The chapter also evaluates possible changes in the hemispheric pattern of lateralization related to the verbal or non-verbal nature of the material and to its novelty. Two recognition memory studies with pictures and word pairs are performed. The implementation of the same experimental design for both types of memoranda allows to better disentangle the role of the attributes of the presented material on the functional lateralization of prefrontal cortex (PFC) involvements, by measuring individual behavioral performances, during episodic memory tasks.