Development of Multidimensional Representations of Task Phases in the Lateral Prefrontal Cortex

Saga, Yosuke; Iba, Michiyo; Tanji, Jun; Hoshi, Eiji

doi:10.1523/jneurosci.0988-11.2011

Cited by 20 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 70 publications

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“…That is, the early-delay activity most likely encodes and maintains sample information in both visual and haptic modalities, but with different coding strengths (40)(41)(42). A similar finding showing modality-specific delay activity has been reported in the monkey prefrontal cortex with a go/no-go task (43).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 71%

Differential roles of delay-period neural activity in the monkey dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in visual–haptic crossmodal working memory

Wang

Hsiao

et al. 2014

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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Previous studies have shown that neurons of monkey dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) integrate information across modalities and maintain it throughout the delay period of working-memory (WM) tasks. However, the mechanisms of this temporal integration in the DLPFC are still poorly understood. In the present study, to further elucidate the role of the DLPFC in crossmodal WM, we trained monkeys to perform visuo-haptic (VH) crossmodal and haptic-haptic (HH) unimodal WM tasks. The neuronal activity recorded in the DLPFC in the delay period of both tasks indicates that the early-delay differential activity probably is related to the encoding of sample information with different strengths depending on task modality, that the late-delay differential activity reflects the associated (modality-independent) action component of haptic choice in both tasks (that is, the anticipation of the behavioral choice and/or active recall and maintenance of sample information for subsequent action), and that the sustained whole-delay differential activity likely bridges and integrates the sensory and action components. In addition, the VH late-delay differential activity was significantly diminished when the haptic choice was not required. Taken together, the results show that, in addition to the whole-delay differential activity, DLPFC neurons also show early-and late-delay differential activities. These previously unidentified findings indicate that DLPFC is capable of (i) holding the coded sample information (e.g., visual or tactile information) in the early-delay activity, (ii) retrieving the abstract information (orientations) of the sample (whether the sample has been haptic or visual) and holding it in the late-delay activity, and (iii) preparing for behavioral choice acting on that abstract information.prefrontal | cross-modal working memory | monkey | delay activity | single unit W orking memory (WM) is a central concept in cognitive sciences. The prefrontal cortex constitutes the highest stage in the cortical hierarchy of executive memories (1-5), and it seems to be essential for integrating sensory information of different modalities with subsequent action in goal-directed behavior (6-9).Cells involved in WM ("memory cells") were first recorded in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) of monkeys performing delayed-response tasks (10-12) and have also been reported by other subsequent primate studies (13-19). The persistent delay activity recorded in those studies reflects the maintenance of a working-memory representation and therefore underlies the representation of retrospective, current, and prospective information (20). From the results of those studies, it seems that, in addition to persistent delay activity that is sustained throughout the whole delay period in WM tasks, task/set cells, eye movement-related responses, and phasic sensory responses, etc. (14-18, 21), two other general types of prefrontal neurons have also been studied (22, 23). One is the so-called sensory-coupled cue cell, the discharge of wh...

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 71%

Differential roles of delay-period neural activity in the monkey dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in visual–haptic crossmodal working memory

Wang

Hsiao

et al. 2014

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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“…14). Recording sites, first determined by observing the principal and arcuate sulci during craniotomy, were verified by examining magnetic resonance images (1.5 T; Sonata; Siemens) (Saga et al, 2011). At the end of each experimental session, we applied intracortical microstimulation (ICMS) through the tip of an inserted electrode (11-44 pulses of 200 s width at 333 Hz; current, Ͻ50 A) to map the frontal eye field (FEF) (Bruce et al, 1985).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Distinct Information Representation and Processing for Goal-Directed Behavior in the Dorsolateral and Ventrolateral Prefrontal Cortex and the Dorsal Premotor Cortex

et al. 2012

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Although the lateral prefrontal cortex (lPFC) and dorsal premotor cortex (PMd) are thought to be involved in goal-directed behavior, the specific roles of each area still remain elusive. To characterize and compare neuronal activity in two sectors of the lPFC [dorsal (dlPFC) and ventral (vlPFC)] and the PMd, we designed a behavioral task for monkeys to explore the differences in their participation in four aspects of information processing: encoding of visual signals, behavioral goal retrieval, action specification, and maintenance of relevant information. We initially presented a visual object (an instruction cue) to instruct a behavioral goal (reaching to the right or left of potential targets). After a subsequent delay, a choice cue appeared at various locations on a screen, and the animals could specify an action to achieve the behavioral goal. We found that vlPFC neurons amply encoded object features of the instruction cues for behavioral goal retrieval and, subsequently, spatial locations of the choice cues for specifying the actions. By contrast, dlPFC and PMd neurons rarely encoded the object features, although they reflected the behavioral goals throughout the delay period. After the appearance of the choice cues, the PMd held information for action throughout the specification and preparation of reaching movements. Remarkably, lPFC neurons represented information for the behavioral goal continuously, even after the action specification as well as during its execution. These results indicate that area-specific representation and information processing at progressive stages of the perception-action transformation in these areas underlie goal-directed behavior.

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“…A further alternative explanation is that these neurons encode specific phases of the task, in order to monitor and regulate behaviour (Saga et al ., ). Although this interpretation does not seem to apply to the grip‐selective neurons, it could explain the behaviour of non‐grip‐selective neurons.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Movement‐related activity during goal‐directed hand actions in the monkey ventrolateral prefrontal cortex

Simone

Rozzi

Bimbi

et al. 2015

Eur J of Neuroscience

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Grasping actions require the integration of two neural processes, one enabling the transformation of object properties into corresponding motor acts, and the other involved in planning and controlling action execution on the basis of contextual information. The first process relies on parieto-premotor circuits, whereas the second is considered to be a prefrontal function. Up to now, the prefrontal cortex has been mainly investigated with conditional visuomotor tasks requiring a learned association between cues and behavioural output. To clarify the functional role of the prefrontal cortex in grasping actions, we recorded the activity of ventrolateral prefrontal (VLPF) neurons while monkeys (Macaca mulatta) performed tasks requiring reaching-grasping actions in different contextual conditions (in light and darkness, memory-guided, and in the absence of abstract learned rules). The results showed that the VLPF cortex contains neurons that are active during action execution (movement-related neurons). Some of them showed grip selectivity, and some also responded to object presentation. Most movement-related neurons discharged during action execution both with and without visual feedback, and this discharge typically did not change when the action was performed with object mnemonic information and in the absence of abstract rules. The findings of this study indicate that a population of VLPF neurons play a role in controlling goal-directed grasping actions in several contexts. This control is probably exerted within a wider network, involving parietal and premotor regions, where the role of VLPF movement-related neurons would be that of activating, on the basis of contextual information, the representation of the motor goal of the intended action (taking possession of an object) during action planning and execution.

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Development of Multidimensional Representations of Task Phases in the Lateral Prefrontal Cortex

Cited by 20 publications

References 70 publications

Differential roles of delay-period neural activity in the monkey dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in visual–haptic crossmodal working memory

Differential roles of delay-period neural activity in the monkey dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in visual–haptic crossmodal working memory

Distinct Information Representation and Processing for Goal-Directed Behavior in the Dorsolateral and Ventrolateral Prefrontal Cortex and the Dorsal Premotor Cortex

Movement‐related activity during goal‐directed hand actions in the monkey ventrolateral prefrontal cortex

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