Where in the Brain Is the Future? An fMRI Study

Data from functional MRIs suggest that areas other than the hippocampus are important for imagining the future.

Functional MRIs (fMRIs) can help researchers determine which areas of the brain are activated during specific cognitive or emotional tasks. Recently, researchers studied patients with hippocampal lesions to determine the importance of the hippocampus in imagining new experiences (see Journal Watch Psychiatry Feb 12 2007). In the current fMRI study, 21 healthy subjects were asked to imagine several scenarios (e.g., a birthday) in one of three ways: a personal memory, a personal future event, or an event involving a familiar individual (Bill Clinton).

Participants attempted to recall or imagine each event vividly. Brain areas important for imagining bodily movements (left lateral premotor cortex, left precuneus, right posterior cerebellum) wer…

Reviewing Author

Jonathan Silver, MD