We studied a group of verbal memory specialists to determine whether intensive oral text memory is associated with structural features of hippocampal and lateral-temporal regions implicated in language processing. Professional Vedic Sanskrit Pandits in India train from childhood for around 10years in an ancient, formalized tradition of oral Sanskrit text memorization and recitation, mastering the exact pronunciation and invariant content of multiple 40,000-100,000 word oral texts. We conducted structural analysis of gray matter density, cortical thickness, local gyrification, and white matter structure, relative to matched controls. We found massive gray matter density and cortical thickness increases in Pandit brains in language, memory and visual systems, including i) bilateral lateral temporal cortices and ii) the anterior cingulate cortex and the hippocampus, regions associated with long and short-term memory. Differences in hippocampal morphometry matched those previously documented for expert spatial navigators and individuals with good verbal working memory. The findings provide unique insight into the brain organization implementing formalized oral knowledge systems.

Neuroimaging studies have shown that task demands affect connectivity patterns in the human brain not only during task performance but also during subsequent rest periods. Our goal was to determine whether ongoing connectivity patterns during rest contain information about both the current rest state, as well as the recently terminated task. Our experimental design consisted of two types of active tasks that were followed by two types of low-demand rest states. Using this design, we examined whether hippocampal functional connectivity during wakeful rest reflects both features of a recently terminated task and those of the current resting-state condition. We identified four types of networks: (i) one whose connectivity with the hippocampus was determined only by features of a recently terminated task, (ii) one whose connectivity was determined only by features of the current resting-state, (iii) one whose connectivity reflected aspects of both the recently terminated task and ongoing resting-state features, and (iv) one whose connectivity with the hippocampus was strong, but not affected by any external factor. The left and right hippocampi played distinct roles in these networks. These findings suggest that ongoing hippocampal connectivity networks mediate information integration across multiple temporal scales, with hippocampal laterality moderating these connectivity patterns.

Indie Research Center (DHIRC) at Sharp Health Care) discussed how recent adColumbia University was designed to examine vances in neuroimmunology and neuroenAyiirveda {veda, the science of ayus, long life), docrinology may be helpful in understanding the traditional system of medicine that has been Ayurveda. He emphasized that "thoughts bein continuous use in India for approximately come molecules"-that our thinking, attitudes, 2500 years. Over 200 participants attended the intentions, and choices engender real alterations 2-day conference, complementing the invited in our immune system function, our neuropepspeakers, who covered a wide range of issues, tide secretion, and our general state of health, including the history of Ayurveda in India; its A number of general points emerged from modern practice in India, North America, and the conference presentations, elsewhere; research, methodological, institutional, and scientific issues relating to the pos-1. The Ayurvedic system of medicine uses a difsible integration of Ayurvedic medical pracferent theoretical construct than that emtices and materia medica into modern Western ployed by Western medicine to describe the medicine.human organism and the mechanisms of disMr. S.P. Hinduja, the benefactor of DHIRC, ease. Understanding this construct is compliopened the proceedings by acknowledging that cated by the fact that classical Ayurvedic texts the conference brought together contributions are written in Sanskrit, so that mastery of from two cultures: the open scientific mind fosSanskrit is a prerequisite for those seeking tered in America and the multibranched spiricomprehensive knowledge of Ayurvedic tual genius of the Indian tradition.medicine. The keynote speaker. Professor Diana Eck 2. Although the Ayurvedic theory of the pec-(Harvard University) discussed a century of dicant, or disease-causing, humors suggests alogue between India and the United States. compatibility with early Greek and Roman This included the discovery of India by the medical theory, it is not clear that one sysWestem world, resulting in Indian spirituality tem was based on the other. Moreover, finding fertile ground in North America. The Ayurveda has developed an integrated syssecond da/s keynote speaker. Dr. Deepak tem of medical practice that could offer ad-