The computational role of dopamine D1 receptors in working memory

The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is essential for working memory, which is the ability to transiently hold and manipulate information necessary for generating forthcoming action. PFC neurons actively encode working memory information via sustained firing patterns. Dopamine via D1 receptors potently modulates sustained activity of PFC neurons and performance in working memory tasks. In vitro patch-clamp data have revealed many different cellular actions of dopamine on PFC neurons and synapses. These effects were simulated using realistic networks of recurrently connected assemblies of PFC neurons. Simulated D1-mediated modulation led to a deepening and widening of the basins of attraction of high (working memory) activity states of the network, while at the same time background activity was depressed. As a result, self-sustained activity was more robust to distracting stimuli and noise. In this manner, D1 receptor stimulation might regulate the extent to which PFC network activity is focused on a particular goal state versus being open to new goals or information unrelated to the current goal.