Neural Correlates of Working Memory Development in Adolescent Primates

Overview

Journal Nat Commun

Specialty Biology

Date 2016 Nov 10

PMID 27827365

Citations 26

Authors

Xin Zhou

Dantong Zhu

Xue-Lian Qi

Sihai Li

Samson G King

Emilio Salinas

Terrence R Stanford

Christos Constantinidis

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Working memory ability matures after puberty, in parallel with structural changes in the prefrontal cortex, but little is known about how changes in prefrontal neuronal activity mediate this cognitive improvement in primates. To address this issue, we compare behavioural performance and neurophysiological activity in monkeys as they transitioned from puberty into adulthood. Here we report that monkeys perform working memory tasks reliably during puberty and show modest improvement in adulthood. The adult prefrontal cortex is characterized by increased activity during the delay period of the task but no change in the representation of stimuli. Activity evoked by distracting stimuli also decreases in the adult prefrontal cortex. The increase in delay period activity relative to the baseline activity of prefrontal neurons is the best correlate of maturation and is not merely a consequence of improved performance. Our results reveal neural correlates of the working memory improvement typical of primate adolescence.

Citing Articles

Brain structure and activity predicting cognitive maturation in adolescence.

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Parallel signatures of cognitive maturation in primate antisaccade performance and prefrontal activity.

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Laminar pattern of adolescent development changes in working memory neuronal activity.

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Laminar pattern of adolescent development changes in working memory neuronal activity.

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