scholarly journals Striatum-projecting prefrontal cortex neurons support working memory maintenance

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Chernysheva ◽  
Yaroslav Sych ◽  
Aleksejs Fomins ◽  
José Luis Alatorre Warren ◽  
Christopher Lewis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Delay Period ◽  
Projection Neurons ◽  
Receptor Blockade ◽  
Impaired Performance ◽  
Cellular Resolution ◽  
Nmda Receptor Blockade ◽  
Pathway Function ◽  
Freely Moving

ABSTRACTThe medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and the dorsomedial striatum (dmStr) are linked to working memory (WM) but how striatum-projecting mPFC neurons contribute to WM encoding, maintenance, or retrieval remains unclear. Here, we probed mPFC→dmStr pathway function in freely-moving mice during a T-maze alternation test of spatial WM. Fiber photometry of GCaMP6m-labeled mPFC→dmStr projection neurons revealed strongest activity during the delay period that requires WM maintenance. Demonstrating causality, optogenetic inhibition of mPFC→dmStr neurons only during the delay period impaired performance. Conversely, enhancing mPFC→dmStr pathway activity—via pharmacological suppression of HCN1 or by optogenetic activation during the delay— alleviated WM impairment induced by NMDA receptor blockade. Consistently, cellular-resolution miniscope imaging resolved preferred activation of >50% mPFC→dmStr neurons during WM maintenance. This subpopulation was distinct from neurons showing preference for encoding and retrieval. In all periods, including the delay, neuronal sequences were evident. Striatum-projecting mPFC neurons thus critically contribute to spatial WM maintenance.

scholarly journals Parallel processing of working memory and temporal information by distinct types of cortical projection neurons

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jung Won Bae ◽  
Huijeong Jeong ◽  
Young Ju Yoon ◽  
Chan Mee Bae ◽  
Hyeonsu Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Delay Period ◽  
Temporal Information ◽  
Projection Neurons ◽  
Delayed Response ◽  
Subcortical Structures ◽  
Cortical Projection ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Response Task

AbstractIt is unclear how different types of cortical projection neurons work together to support diverse cortical functions. We examined the discharge characteristics and inactivation effects of intratelencephalic (IT) and pyramidal tract (PT) neurons—two major types of cortical excitatory neurons that project to cortical and subcortical structures, respectively—in the deep layer of the medial prefrontal cortex in mice performing a delayed response task. We found stronger target-dependent firing of IT than PT neurons during the delay period. We also found the inactivation of IT neurons, but not PT neurons, impairs behavioral performance. In contrast, PT neurons carry more temporal information than IT neurons during the delay period. Our results indicate a division of labor between IT and PT projection neurons in the prefrontal cortex for the maintenance of working memory and for tracking the passage of time, respectively.

scholarly journals Active information maintenance in working memory by a sensory cortex

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoxing Zhang ◽  
Wenjun Yan ◽  
Wenliang Wang ◽  
Hongmei Fan ◽  
Ruiqing Hou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Piriform Cortex ◽  
Delay Period ◽  
Sensory Cortex ◽  
Critical Function ◽  
Impaired Performance ◽  
Anterior Piriform Cortex ◽  
Electrophysiological Recordings ◽  
Dual Task Paradigm ◽  
The Brain

SummaryWorking memory is a critical function of the brain to maintain and manipulate information over delay periods of seconds. Sensory areas have been implicated in working memory; however, it is debated whether the delay-period activity of sensory regions is actively maintaining information or passively reflecting top-down inputs. We hereby examined the anterior piriform cortex, an olfactory cortex, in head-fixed mice performing a series of olfactory working memory tasks. Information maintenance is necessary in these tasks, especially in a dual-task paradigm in which mice are required to perform another distracting task while actively maintaining information during the delay period. Optogenetic suppression of the piriform cortex activity during the delay period impaired performance in all the tasks.Furthermore, electrophysiological recordings revealed that the delay-period activity of the anterior piriform cortex encoded odor information with or without the distracting task.Thus, this sensory cortex is critical for active information maintenance in working memory.

scholarly journals The Impact of NMDA Receptor Blockade on Human Working Memory-Related Prefrontal Function and Connectivity

2013 ◽  
Vol 38 (13) ◽  
pp. 2613-2622 ◽  
Author(s):  
Naomi R Driesen ◽  
Gregory McCarthy ◽  
Zubin Bhagwagar ◽  
Michael H Bloch ◽  
Vincent D Calhoun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Nmda Receptor ◽  
Receptor Blockade ◽  
Prefrontal Function ◽  
Nmda Receptor Blockade ◽  
The Impact

scholarly journals Delay-Period Activity and Executive Functions of the Prefrontal Cortex

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 3
Author(s):  
Aarron Phensy ◽  
Sven Kroener
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Executive Functions ◽  
Delay Period ◽  
Goal Directed Behavior

The term “working memory” (WM) describes the ability to maintain and manipulate information in the memory for the guidance of goal-directed behavior [...]

scholarly journals Dopamine-Mediated Stabilization of Delay-Period Activity in a Network Model of Prefrontal Cortex

2000 ◽  
Vol 83 (3) ◽  
pp. 1733-1750 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Durstewitz ◽  
Jeremy K. Seamans ◽  
Terrence J. Sejnowski
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Network Model ◽  
Delay Period ◽  
D1 Receptor ◽  
Neural Representations ◽  
Type Activity ◽  
Synaptic Conductances

The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is critically involved in working memory, which underlies memory-guided, goal-directed behavior. During working-memory tasks, PFC neurons exhibit sustained elevated activity, which may reflect the active holding of goal-related information or the preparation of forthcoming actions. Dopamine via the D1 receptor strongly modulates both this sustained (delay-period) activity and behavioral performance in working-memory tasks. However, the function of dopamine during delay-period activity and the underlying neural mechanisms are only poorly understood. Recently we proposed that dopamine might stabilize active neural representations in PFC circuits during tasks involving working memory and render them robust against interfering stimuli and noise. To further test this idea and to examine the dopamine-modulated ionic currents that could give rise to increased stability of neural representations, we developed a network model of the PFC consisting of multicompartment neurons equipped with Hodgkin-Huxley-like channel kinetics that could reproduce in vitro whole cell and in vivo recordings from PFC neurons. Dopaminergic effects on intrinsic ionic and synaptic conductances were implemented in the model based on in vitro data. Simulated dopamine strongly enhanced high, delay-type activity but not low, spontaneous activity in the model network. Furthermore the strength of an afferent stimulation needed to disrupt delay-type activity increased with the magnitude of the dopamine-induced shifts in network parameters, making the currently active representation much more stable. Stability could be increased by dopamine-induced enhancements of the persistent Na+and N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) conductances. Stability also was enhanced by a reductionin AMPA conductances. The increase in GABAA conductances that occurs after stimulation of dopaminergic D1 receptors was necessary in this context to prevent uncontrolled, spontaneous switches into high-activity states (i.e., spontaneous activation of task-irrelevant representations). In conclusion, the dopamine-induced changes in the biophysical properties of intrinsic ionic and synaptic conductances conjointly acted to highly increase stability of activated representations in PFC networks and at the same time retain control over network behavior and thus preserve its ability to adequately respond to task-related stimuli. Predictions of the model can be tested in vivo by locally applying specific D1 receptor, NMDA, or GABAA antagonists while recording from PFC neurons in delayed reaction-type tasks with interfering stimuli.

Prefrontal Task-Related Activity Representing Visual Cue Location or Saccade Direction in Spatial Working Memory Tasks

2002 ◽  
Vol 87 (1) ◽  
pp. 567-588 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kazuyoshi Takeda ◽  
Shintaro Funahashi
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Spatial Working Memory ◽  
Delay Period ◽  
Neuron Activity ◽  
Delayed Response ◽  
Related Activity ◽  
Visual Cue ◽  
Response Period ◽  
Dorsolateral Prefrontal

To examine what kind of information task-related activity encodes during spatial working memory processes, we analyzed single-neuron activity in the prefrontal cortex while two monkeys performed two different oculomotor delayed-response (ODR) tasks. In the standard ODR task, monkeys were required to make a saccade to the cue location after a 3-s delay, whereas in the rotatory ODR (R-ODR) task, they were required to make a saccade 90° clockwise from the cue location after the 3-s delay. By comparing the same task-related activities in these two tasks, we could determine whether such activities encoded the location of the visual cue or the direction of the saccade. One hundred twenty one neurons exhibited task-related activity in relation to at least one task event in both tasks. Among them, 41 neurons exhibited directional cue-period activity, most of which encoded the location of the visual cue. Among 56 neurons with directional delay-period activity, 86% encoded the location of the visual cue, whereas 13% encoded the direction of the saccade. Among 57 neurons with directional response-period activity, 58% encoded the direction of the saccade, whereas 35% encoded the location of the visual cue. Most neurons whose response-period activity encoded the location of the visual cue also exhibited directional delay-period activity that encoded the location of the visual cue as well. The best directions of these two activities were identical, and most of these response-period activities were postsaccadic. Therefore this postsaccadic activity can be considered a signal to terminate unnecessary delay-period activity. Population histograms encoding the location of the visual cue showed tonic sustained activation during the delay period. However, population histograms encoding the direction of the saccade showed a gradual increase in activation during the delay period. These results indicate that the transformation from visual input to motor output occurs in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. The analysis using population histograms suggests that this transformation occurs gradually during the delay period.

NMDA receptor blockade augmented nicotine-evoked dopamine release from rat prefrontal cortex slices

2008 ◽  
Vol 440 (3) ◽  
pp. 319-322 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelli R. Rodvelt ◽  
Todd R. Schachtman ◽  
George R. Kracke ◽  
Dennis K. Miller
Keyword(s):  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Nmda Receptor ◽  
Dopamine Release ◽  
Receptor Blockade ◽  
Nmda Receptor Blockade ◽  
Cortex Slices

Egocentric working memory impairment and dendritic spine plastic changes in prefrontal neurons after NMDA receptor blockade in rats

2011 ◽  
Vol 1402 ◽  
pp. 101-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dulce A. Velázquez-Zamora ◽  
Myrna M. González-Ramírez ◽  
Carlos Beas-Zárate ◽  
Ignacio González-Burgos
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Nmda Receptor ◽  
Dendritic Spine ◽  
Memory Impairment ◽  
Receptor Blockade ◽  
Nmda Receptor Blockade ◽  
Plastic Changes

scholarly journals Delay-period Activity in the Prefrontal Cortex: One Function Is Sensory Gating

2005 ◽  
Vol 17 (11) ◽  
pp. 1679-1690 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bradley R. Postle
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Recognition Task ◽  
Sensory Gating ◽  
Visual Presentation ◽  
Delay Period ◽  
Control Processes ◽  
Gating Mechanism ◽  
Occipitotemporal Cortex ◽  
Evoked Activity

The prefrontal cortex (PFC) contributes to working memory functions via executive control processes that do not entail the storage, per se, of mnemonic representations. One of these control processes may be a sensory gating mechanism that facilitates retention of representations in working memory by down-regulating the gain of the sensory processing of intervening irrelevant stimuli. This idea was tested by scanning healthy young adults with functional magnetic resonance imaging while they performed a delayed face-recognition task. The 2 × 2 factorial design varied the factors of Memory (present, absent) and Distraction (present, absent). During memory-present trials, target and probe stimuli were individual gray-scale male faces. Memory-absent trials were identical, except that they employed the same recurring female faces (denoting a “no memory” trial). Distraction-present trials featured rapid serial visual presentation of bespectacled male faces during the two middle seconds of the delay. The first step of the analyses identified dorsolateral PFC (dlPFC) and inferior occipitotemporal cortex (IOTC) voxels exhibiting delay-period activity in memory-present/distraction-absent trials, that is, the “unfilled” delay. Within these voxels, distraction-evoked activity in the dlPFC was markedly higher during trials that required the concurrent short-term retention of information than on those that did not, whereas the opposite effect was seen in the IOTC. These results are consistent with the view that processes related to sensory gating account for a portion of the delay-period activity that is routinely observed in the dlPFC.

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