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Related Concept Videos

Working Memory01:24

Working Memory

Working memory refers to a combination of components, including short-term memory and attention, that allow an individual to hold information temporarily as we perform cognitive tasks. It is an essential cognitive function that enables the execution of complex tasks such as problem-solving, comprehension, and reasoning. Unlike short-term memory, which simply involves the storage of information for a brief period, working memory involves the active manipulation and processing of this information.
Motor and Sensory Areas of the Cortex01:14

Motor and Sensory Areas of the Cortex

The cerebral cortex, the brain's outermost layer, is pivotal in processing complex cognitive tasks, emotions, and various sensory inputs and executing voluntary motor activities. This intricate structure is divided into three primary functional areas: the motor areas, sensory areas, and association areas.
Motor Areas
The motor areas located in the frontal lobe are central to controlling voluntary movements. This region is further subdivided into the primary motor cortex and the premotor cortex.
Association Areas of the Cortex01:21

Association Areas of the Cortex

Association areas are regions of the cerebral cortex that do not have a specific sensory or motor function. Instead, they integrate and interpret information from various sources to enable higher cognitive processes such as memory, learning, and decision-making. Some key association areas include the following:
Prefrontal Association Area: This area is located in the frontal lobe and is involved in planning, decision-making, and moderating social behavior. It connects with primary motor areas,...
Vision01:24

Vision

Vision is the result of light being detected and transduced into neural signals by the retina of the eye. This information is then further analyzed and interpreted by the brain. First, light enters the front of the eye and is focused by the cornea and lens onto the retina—a thin sheet of neural tissue lining the back of the eye. Because of refraction through the convex lens of the eye, images are projected onto the retina upside-down and reversed.
Visual System01:26

Visual System

Light enters the eye through the cornea, a transparent, dome-shaped surface covering the surface of the eyeball that helps to direct and focus incoming light. This light is then channeled toward the pupil, an adjustable opening whose size is controlled by the iris. The iris, a pigmented muscle, regulates the amount of light entering the eye by contracting or dilating the pupil, thereby ensuring optimal light levels for clear vision.
Once through the pupil, the light passes through the lens, a...
Higher Mental Functions of the Brain: Language01:10

Higher Mental Functions of the Brain: Language

Language is a system of communication that allows the expression of thoughts, ideas, and feelings. The brain processes language in both hemispheres.
Language formation and comprehension take place in the dominant hemisphere. The dominant hemisphere is responsible for understanding the meaning of spoken, written, or sign language, as well as the ability to communicate. For most people, the left hemisphere is the dominant one. The right hemisphere, then, gives tone and emotional context to the...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 12, 2026

Investigating Object Representations in the Macaque Dorsal Visual Stream Using Single-unit Recordings
07:08

Investigating Object Representations in the Macaque Dorsal Visual Stream Using Single-unit Recordings

Published on: August 1, 2018

Working memory and decision processes in visual area v4.

Benjamin Y Hayden1, Jack L Gallant

  • 1Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California Berkeley Berkeley, CA, USA.

Frontiers in Neuroscience
|April 4, 2013
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Visual cortex neurons (V4) show persistent activity reflecting remembered images, suggesting working memory involves sensory neuron reactivation. This aids in memory-guided perception and decision-making.

Keywords:
attentiondelayed match-to-samplefeature-based attentionmatched filterrapid serial visual presentation

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Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 12, 2026

Investigating Object Representations in the Macaque Dorsal Visual Stream Using Single-unit Recordings
07:08

Investigating Object Representations in the Macaque Dorsal Visual Stream Using Single-unit Recordings

Published on: August 1, 2018

A Cognitive Paradigm to Investigate Interference in Working Memory by Distractions and Interruptions
10:38

A Cognitive Paradigm to Investigate Interference in Working Memory by Distractions and Interruptions

Published on: July 16, 2015

Automated Visual Cognitive Tasks for Recording Neural Activity Using a Floor Projection Maze
11:15

Automated Visual Cognitive Tasks for Recording Neural Activity Using a Floor Projection Maze

Published on: February 20, 2014

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cognitive Neuroscience
  • Visual Perception

Background:

  • Recognizing remembered stimuli involves perception, working memory, and decision-making.
  • The specific roles of the visual cortex in these cognitive functions are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of the V4 visual cortex in memory-guided perception and decision-making.
  • To determine if working memory signals involve sensory neuron reactivation.
  • To explore how V4 neurons contribute to matching remembered stimuli with incoming visual information.

Main Methods:

  • Recorded single V4 neuron activity in non-human primates during a delayed match-to-sample task.
  • Utilized rapid serial visual presentation of natural images.
  • Analyzed neuronal responses during cue presentation, delay periods, and stimulus comparison.

Main Results:

  • Neuronal activity during delay periods reflected the identity of the remembered image, persisting even with distractors.
  • This persistent modulation aligns with criteria for working memory signals, suggesting sensory neuron reactivation.
  • Visually evoked responses were enhanced when the remembered image reappeared, indicating a match enhancement crucial for decision-making.

Conclusions:

  • V4 neurons exhibit persistent activity indicative of working memory, supporting the reactivation of sensory neurons.
  • Match enhancement in V4 neurons serves as a decision-making signal.
  • V4 neurons are integral to perceptual, working memory, and decision processes in memory-guided tasks.