Canonical goal-selective representations are absent from prefrontal cortex in a spatial working memory task requiring behavioral flexibility.

ABSTRACT: The prefrontal cortex (PFC)'s functions are thought to include working memory, as its activity can reflect information that must be temporarily maintained to realize the current goal. We designed a flexible spatial working memory task that required rats to navigate - after distractions and a delay - to multiple possible goal locations from different starting points and via multiple routes. This made the current goal location the key variable to remember, instead of a particular direction or route to the goal. However, across a broad population of PFC neurons, we found no evidence of current-goal-specific memory in any previously reported form - that is differences in the rate, sequence, phase, or covariance of firing. This suggests that such patterns do not hold working memory in the PFC w

SUBMITTER: Bohm C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7781596 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature