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Organization of working memory within the human prefrontal cortex: a PET study of self-ordered object working memory
C E Curtis1, D H Zald, J V Pardo
1Cognitive Neuroimaging Unit, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 1 Veterans Drive, Minneapolis, MN 55417, USA.
Neuropsychologia
|July 25, 2000
Summary
The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, not the ventrolateral region, is activated during working memory tasks requiring information monitoring. This finding supports the process-specific model of prefrontal cortex function in working memory.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Neuroscience
Background:
- The prefrontal cortex is crucial for working memory, essential for guiding cognitive and motor actions.
- Two models explain prefrontal cortex involvement: domain-specific (dorsolateral for spatial, ventrolateral for non-spatial) and process-specific (dorsal regions for active manipulation/monitoring).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether dorsal or ventral lateral cortical areas are recruited during a working memory task demanding extensive monitoring of non-spatial information.
- To test the competing domain-specific versus process-specific models of prefrontal cortex function in working memory.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a novel self-ordered working memory task.
- Employed positron emission tomography (PET) to measure brain activity.
Main Results:
- Observed increased blood flow in the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex.
- No significant increase in blood flow was detected in the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex.
- Increased dorsolateral prefrontal cortex activity positively correlated with task performance.
Conclusions:
- The results support the process-specific hypothesis of prefrontal cortex function.
- Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex activation is linked to the monitoring demands within working memory, rather than the type of information processed.