Inhibitory control by an integral feedback signal in prefrontal cortex: a model of discrimination between sequential stimuli.

ABSTRACT: The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is known to be critical for inhibitory control of behavior, but the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Here, we propose that inhibitory control can be instantiated by an integral signal derived from working memory, another key function of the PFC. Specifically, we assume that an integrator converts excitatory input into a graded mnemonic activity that provides an inhibitory signal (integral feedback control) to upstream afferent neurons. We demonstrate this scenario in a neuronal-network model for a temporal discrimination task. The task requires the working memory of the vibrational frequency (f1) of an initial stimulus (stimulus 1), followed by comparison of the frequency (f2) of a second stimulus (stimulus 2) with the stored f1 and a binary decision (f2 > f1

SUBMITTER: Miller P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1324991 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature