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A Cognitive Paradigm to Investigate Interference in Working Memory by Distractions and Interruptions
Published on: July 16, 2015
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The cognitive neuroscience of working memory
Mark D'Esposito1, Bradley R Postle
1Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute and Department of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720;
Annual Review of Psychology
|September 25, 2014
Summary
Working memory coordinates complex tasks by attending to internal information. The prefrontal cortex (PFC) controls this process, interacting with striatal circuits and dopamine.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Psychology
Background:
- Working memory is crucial for coordinating multiple goals and guiding behavior with non-present information.
- Information is encoded into working memory via attention to internal representations (semantic, sensory, motoric).
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the neural mechanisms underlying working memory and cognitive control.
- To explore the role of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) in managing internal representations and behavior.
Main Methods:
- Multivariate analyses of human functional MRI data to identify stimulus representation regions.
- Investigating the interplay between PFC, striatal circuits, and dopaminergic neuromodulation.
Main Results:
- Evidence for temporary stimulus representation in task-relevant brain regions during working memory tasks.
- The PFC biases mnemonic salience and adjudicates competing rules.
Conclusions:
- Working memory relies on attention to internal representations within specialized brain regions.
- Prefrontal cortex exerts executive control through interactions with striatal circuits and dopamine.
Keywords:
cognitive controlconnectivitydopamineprefrontal cortexshort-term memorytop-downworking memoryMore Related Videos
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