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Related Concept Videos

Working Memory01:24

Working Memory

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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...
624

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Using rat operant delayed match-to-sample task to identify neural substrates recruited with increased working memory

Christina Gobin1,2,3, Lizhen Wu1, Marek Schwendt1,2

  • 1Department of Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, USA.

Learning & Memory (Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.)
|October 16, 2020
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Summary

This study reveals how the rat medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and associated brain regions handle working memory (WM) load. High WM load specifically activates the prelimbic cortex (PrL) and related subcortical areas, impacting performance accuracy.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cognitive Neuroscience
  • Behavioral Neuroscience

Background:

  • The delayed match-to-sample (DMS) task is a standard method for assessing working memory (WM) across species.
  • While the prefrontal cortex (PFC) is known to be involved in DMS tasks, the broader neural circuitry and its activation patterns under varying WM loads remain incompletely understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the neural circuitry recruited during low- versus high-working memory (WM) load using a variable-delay operant DMS task in rats.
  • To explore the molecular mechanisms, including mGlu5 and protein kinase C (PKC) signaling, underlying WM load processing in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC).

Main Methods:

  • Rats were trained on a DMS task with variable delays to establish baseline WM performance.
  • WM performance was assessed under fixed low (0-sec) and high (24-sec) delay conditions.
  • c-Fos mRNA expression was quantified in cortical and subcortical regions and correlated with WM performance.

Main Results:

  • High WM load significantly increased c-Fos mRNA expression in the prelimbic cortex (PrL), particularly within mGlu5-expressing cells, suggesting load-dependent activation.
  • Local activation of protein kinase C (PKC) was identified as a potential molecular mechanism.
  • PrL activity showed a negative correlation with choice accuracy during high WM load conditions.
  • Several subcortical regions exhibited activation under both low and high WM load conditions.

Conclusions:

  • The findings underscore the critical role of mGlu5 and PKC signaling within the PrL during high-load WM performance.
  • The study highlights the recruitment of a broader neural network, including subcortical structures, in supporting WM demands.
  • Neural activity in the PrL is directly linked to WM performance accuracy under high cognitive load.