Transient neuronal correlations underlying goal selection and maintenance in prefrontal cortex.

ABSTRACT: We reported previously that as monkeys used abstract response strategies to choose spatial goals, 1 population of prefrontal cortex neurons encoded future goals (F cells), whereas a largely separate population encoded previous goals (P cells). Here, to better understand the mechanisms of goal selection and maintenance, we studied correlated activity among pairs of these neurons. Among the 3 possible types of pairs, F-F and F-P pairs often exhibited significant correlations when and after monkeys selected future goals but P-P pairs rarely did. These correlations were stronger when monkeys shifted from a previous goal than when they stayed with that goal. In addition, members of F-F pairs usually preferred the same goal and thus shared both prospective coding and spatial tuning properties. I

SUBMITTER: Tsujimoto S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2583151 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature