Prefrontal attention and multiple reference frames during working memory in primates

Abstract

The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is responsible for executive functions, including planning, goal setting, problem solving, inhibitory control, monitoring, and action adjusting. Executive functions also include selective attention and the flexibility or switching of attention; therefore, attention is an executive function in which the PFC participates. Working memory (WM), which is the temporary maintenance and processing of particular information, is usually considered to be a basic neural mechanism underlying the executive functions. This review systematically discusses the relationship between the prefrontal WM and attention and emphasizes two forms of prefrontal attention. The first form occurs in the dlPFC, which encodes the location of objects with respect to the position of the head, thereby providing a frame of reference from which the focus of attention can be centered. The second occurs in the inferior convexity of the prefrontal cortex (IFC), which encodes the different attributes (shape, texture, color) of objects to enable the ability to focus on one or to switch attention between sensory attributes of objects. prefrontal cortex, attention, working memory, inferior convexity, multi-reference frames

Prefrontal dysfunction and a monkey model of schizophrenia

“…Subsequently, a screen is lowered for an interval of a few seconds to several minutes (the delay) (middle). When the screen is raised, the monkey gets only one chance to uncover the well containing food and receive the reward (right) [55] . In a typical DR task, the monkey must choose from two wells, only one of which contains food (Fig.…”