neural mechanisms of working memory

Question 1

pre-frontal cortex and working memory

Answer 1

Original research that suggests the pre-frontal cortex plays a role in working memory -

Fuster 1974 – neurons in PFC fire during working memory.

Question 2

multivoxel pattern analysis

Answer 2

Takes advantage of fine-grained patterns of activation in the brain
Uses machine learning techniques to teach an algorithm about the pattern of neural activation associated with a particular stimulus
Algorithm is then able to ‘decode’ what the subject is looking at simply by viewing their pattern of brain activity

Question 3

implication of multivoxel pattern analysis

Answer 3

The implication of is that the same regions that enable us to process objects when we see them with our eyes are also involved in storing temporary representations of those objects in WM.

Question 4

PFC neurons and working memory

Answer 4

PFC neurons show sustained activity during the delay period of a WM task.

However, this activity does not reflect storage of items in WM

Question 5

PFC role in processing

Answer 5

PFC seems to play a role in the processing/ manipulation of stimuli held in WM.

This role may involve enhancing attention to internal representations of task relevant stimuli in working memory and manipulating such information.