Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Role of Cerebellum and Prefrontal Cortex in Memory01:14

Role of Cerebellum and Prefrontal Cortex in Memory

1.4K
The cerebellum, while traditionally associated with motor control, also plays a crucial role in memory, particularly in procedural memory, which involves learning motor tasks that become automatic through repetition. For example, studies have shown that when the cerebellum is damaged, individuals or animals lose the ability to learn conditioned motor responses, such as the conditioned eye-blink response in classical conditioning experiments with rabbits. This study demonstrates the...
1.4K
Working Memory01:24

Working Memory

1.2K
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...
1.2K
Information Processing Approach01:30

Information Processing Approach

752
The information-processing theory of cognitive development centers on fundamental mental processes, including attention, memory, and problem-solving skills. Researchers in this field examine how cognitive abilities, such as working memory, evolve and influence children's overall development. Studies indicate that children with stronger working memory tend to excel in reading comprehension, math, and problem-solving compared to peers with less efficient memory skills. Low working memory is...
752
Role of Hippocampus in Memory01:19

Role of Hippocampus in Memory

2.0K
The hippocampus, a critical brain structure, plays an essential role in memory processing, particularly in the formation and retrieval of memory. This small, seahorse-shaped region is located within the medial temporal lobe, with one hippocampus in each brain hemisphere. Experimental studies involving lesions in the hippocampi of rats have demonstrated significant impairments in tasks such as object recognition and maze navigation, indicating the hippocampus involvement in both recognition and...
2.0K
Lobes of the Cerebrum01:22

Lobes of the Cerebrum

5.8K
The cerebral cortex, a critical structure of the brain, is intricately divided into two hemispheres, each consisting of four distinct lobes: occipital, temporal, frontal, and parietal. These lobes function cooperatively to regulate various cognitive and sensory functions, forming the basis of our complex neural capabilities.
Frontal lobe
The frontal lobes, located behind the forehead, are the command center of our brain, controlling personality, intelligence, and voluntary muscle movements....
5.8K
Role of Neurotransmitters in Memory01:23

Role of Neurotransmitters in Memory

2.9K
Neurotransmitters are integral to the brain's communication system, enabling neurons to transmit signals across synapses. This chemical exchange underpins various cognitive functions, including memory processes. The role of neurotransmitters in memory is multifaceted, influencing the encoding, consolidation, and retrieval of memories through their action on different neural circuits.
 Glutamate and Synaptic Plasticity
Glutamate, the brain's main excitatory neurotransmitter, is...
2.9K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Sparse component analysis: A method that uncovers separable computations within neural population activity.

Neuron·2026
Same author

Identifying Interpretable Latent Factors with Sparse Component Analysis.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2024
Same author

Parameterizing neural power spectra into periodic and aperiodic components.

Nature neuroscience·2020
Same author

Perturbation of Macaque Supplementary Motor Area Produces Context-Independent Changes in the Probability of Movement Initiation.

The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience·2019
Same author

Conservation of preparatory neural events in monkey motor cortex regardless of how movement is initiated.

eLife·2018
Same author

Motor Cortex Embeds Muscle-like Commands in an Untangled Population Response.

Neuron·2018

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 27, 2026

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

14.2K

The Role of Prefrontal Cortex in Working Memory: A Mini Review.

Antonio H Lara1, Jonathan D Wallis2

  • 1Department of Neuroscience, Columbia University Kolb Research Annex New York, NY, USA.

Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience
|January 7, 2016
PubMed
Summary

Prefrontal cortex (PFC) neurons may not store working memory. Instead, PFC activity might direct sensory areas to maintain memory representations, challenging traditional views of PFC function.

Keywords:
attentionexecutive functionfrontoparietal networkprefrontal cortexworking memory

More Related Videos

Assessing Working Memory in Children: The Comprehensive Assessment Battery for Children – Working Memory (CABC-WM)
09:05

Assessing Working Memory in Children: The Comprehensive Assessment Battery for Children – Working Memory (CABC-WM)

Published on: June 12, 2017

31.1K
An Appetitive Spatial Working Memory Task for Mice in a Semi-Automated 8-Arm Radial Maze, Reducing Fearful Memory Association in the Maze
14:24

An Appetitive Spatial Working Memory Task for Mice in a Semi-Automated 8-Arm Radial Maze, Reducing Fearful Memory Association in the Maze

Published on: July 29, 2025

1.9K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Mar 27, 2026

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

14.2K
Assessing Working Memory in Children: The Comprehensive Assessment Battery for Children – Working Memory (CABC-WM)
09:05

Assessing Working Memory in Children: The Comprehensive Assessment Battery for Children – Working Memory (CABC-WM)

Published on: June 12, 2017

31.1K
An Appetitive Spatial Working Memory Task for Mice in a Semi-Automated 8-Arm Radial Maze, Reducing Fearful Memory Association in the Maze
14:24

An Appetitive Spatial Working Memory Task for Mice in a Semi-Automated 8-Arm Radial Maze, Reducing Fearful Memory Association in the Maze

Published on: July 29, 2025

1.9K

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cognitive Neuroscience
  • Systems Neuroscience

Background:

  • The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is traditionally thought to maintain task-relevant stimuli in working memory via persistent neural activity.
  • This view is supported by studies showing elevated PFC activity during delay periods in working memory tasks.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of the PFC in working memory maintenance.
  • To challenge the notion that PFC neurons directly encode stimuli in working memory.
  • To explore alternative functions of PFC activity during working memory tasks.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of single-neuron recordings in primates and large-scale neural recordings in humans during working memory tasks.
  • Comparison of neural activity in the PFC and posterior sensory areas during stimulus presentation and delay periods.

Main Results:

  • Studies failed to find robust encoding of stimulus information in the PFC during working memory tasks.
  • Significant stimulus-related information was consistently observed in posterior sensory areas.
  • Persistent activity in the PFC during delay periods did not directly reflect stored stimulus information.

Conclusions:

  • Delay period activity in the PFC may not represent memory storage itself.
  • PFC activity might function as a top-down control signal.
  • This top-down signal likely influences posterior sensory areas where working memory representations are maintained.