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Neural correlates of working memory development in adolescent primates
Xin Zhou1,2, Dantong Zhu1, Xue-Lian Qi1
1Department of Neurobiology &Anatomy, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27157, USA.
Nature Communications
|November 10, 2016
Summary
Working memory improves in primates after puberty due to increased prefrontal cortex activity. This study reveals neural correlates of adolescent cognitive maturation in monkeys.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Science
- Developmental Psychology
Background:
- Working memory (WM) matures post-puberty, paralleling prefrontal cortex (PFC) structural changes.
- The neural mechanisms underlying WM maturation in primates remain poorly understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how changes in PFC neuronal activity mediate cognitive improvement during primate adolescence.
- To compare behavioral performance and neurophysiological activity in monkeys transitioning from puberty to adulthood.
Main Methods:
- Monkeys performed working memory tasks during puberty and adulthood.
- Neurophysiological activity in the prefrontal cortex was recorded during task performance.
- Behavioral data and neuronal activity were analyzed to identify correlates of maturation.
Main Results:
- Monkeys showed reliable working memory performance during puberty with modest improvement in adulthood.
- Adult PFC exhibited increased neuronal activity during task delay periods but no change in stimulus representation.
- Activity evoked by distracting stimuli decreased in the adult PFC.
- Increased delay period activity relative to baseline PFC neuronal activity correlated with maturation, independent of performance gains.
Conclusions:
- The study identifies specific neural correlates of working memory improvement during primate adolescence.
- Increased prefrontal cortex delay period activity is a key neural marker of cognitive maturation.
- Findings shed light on the neurobiological basis of cognitive development in adolescence.
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