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

Working Memory01:24

Working Memory

482
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...
482
Storage01:23

Storage

159
A schema is a mental framework that helps individuals organize and interpret information. Schemata, formed from previous experiences, influence how we process new information: how we encode it, the inferences we make, and how we retrieve it. For instance, a schema for what a typical classroom looks like might include desks, a teacher's desk, a whiteboard, and students in such an environment. This expectation helps us quickly understand and navigate new classrooms without needing to analyze...
159
Higher Mental Functions of Brain: Learning and Memory01:26

Higher Mental Functions of Brain: Learning and Memory

1.3K
Memory is one of the most vital higher mental functions of the brain. Memory is closely related to learning because it enables us to retain information and experiences from our past to use them in our present life. It also helps us to remember facts, events, and skills, such as riding a bike or swimming. There are two types of memory — declarative memory, which involves memorizing facts or events, and procedural memory, which enables us to remember how to do something like writing or...
1.3K
High-Level and Low-Level Awareness01:19

High-Level and Low-Level Awareness

441
Controlled processes in human consciousness represent high-alert mental states where individuals deliberately focus their attention on achieving specific goals. Controlled processes can be seen in situations like mastering new technology, where a person might become so absorbed that they ignore surrounding distractions. Such processes involve selective attention, requiring one to concentrate on particular elements of experience while disregarding others. These are governed by executive...
441
Understanding Memory01:19

Understanding Memory

703
Memory is the retention of information or experiences over time, facilitated through three main processes: encoding, storage, and retrieval. Encoding is the process of inputting information into the memory system. For instance, when listening to a lecture, watching a play, reading a book, or having a conversation, the brain is actively encoding information. This initial stage involves transforming sensory input into a form that can be processed and stored by the brain. Various factors, such as...
703
Understanding Consciousness01:23

Understanding Consciousness

563
Consciousness can be defined as the state of being aware of and able to think about one's existence, sensations, and surroundings. It encompasses two major components: awareness and arousal. Awareness pertains to the recognition of environmental stimuli and internal states. At the same time, arousal refers to the physiological readiness to engage with these stimuli, which varies significantly between states like sleep and wakefulness.
Sleep, a crucial state, is characterized by reduced...
563

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

The cost of efficiency in flexible neural representations.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Trajectories of Response Inhibition Development in Adolescence.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Prefrontal Mechanisms of Rule Learning.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Physiological, Histological, and Cognitive Characterization of a Rhesus Macaque Model of Presbycusis.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Linking macroscale structure and function in brain-like recurrent neural networks.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Repeatable, low-drift recordings in behaving non-human primates using flexible microelectrodes.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 19, 2025

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

904

Working Memory: From Neural Activity to the Sentient Mind.

Russell J Jaffe1, Christos Constantinidis1,2,3,4

  • 1Department of Neurobiology & Anatomy, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA.

Comprehensive Physiology
|September 24, 2021
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Working memory (WM) involves maintaining and manipulating information for seconds. Its neural basis, involving prefrontal cortex networks and neuron activity, is crucial for cognitive function and can be altered by development and disease.

More Related Videos

Author Spotlight: Deciphering Memory and Learning Through Neural Implants for Multi-Region Brain Studies
08:51

Author Spotlight: Deciphering Memory and Learning Through Neural Implants for Multi-Region Brain Studies

Published on: April 26, 2024

1.6K
A Fully Automated Rodent Conditioning Protocol for Sensorimotor Integration and Cognitive Control Experiments
09:43

A Fully Automated Rodent Conditioning Protocol for Sensorimotor Integration and Cognitive Control Experiments

Published on: April 15, 2014

10.8K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Oct 19, 2025

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

904
Author Spotlight: Deciphering Memory and Learning Through Neural Implants for Multi-Region Brain Studies
08:51

Author Spotlight: Deciphering Memory and Learning Through Neural Implants for Multi-Region Brain Studies

Published on: April 26, 2024

1.6K
A Fully Automated Rodent Conditioning Protocol for Sensorimotor Integration and Cognitive Control Experiments
09:43

A Fully Automated Rodent Conditioning Protocol for Sensorimotor Integration and Cognitive Control Experiments

Published on: April 15, 2014

10.8K

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cognitive Science
  • Physiology

Background:

  • Working memory (WM) is the cognitive ability to hold and manipulate information consciously for brief periods.
  • Persistent neuronal discharges in prefrontal cortex networks are hypothesized to underlie WM.
  • The precise neural basis and localization of WM remain subjects of ongoing research and debate.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the neural mechanisms supporting working memory.
  • To explore the role of neuronal activity and circuits in WM.
  • To discuss how WM is affected by development, training, and pathology.

Main Methods:

  • Review of neurophysiological recordings in various species, including nonhuman primates, rodents, and corvids.
  • Examination of the roles of excitatory and inhibitory neurons.
  • Analysis of neuromodulatory influences, particularly dopamine.

Main Results:

  • Neural correlates of WM are observed across diverse species, extending beyond primates.
  • A specialized network of neurons, modulated by dopamine, is essential for maintaining neural activity.
  • Properties of neural activity and circuits are linked to WM capacity, duration, and plasticity.

Conclusions:

  • Working memory is a fundamental cognitive function directly linked to the spiking activity of brain neurons.
  • Understanding WM neural underpinnings is key to explaining cognitive enhancements and impairments.
  • The interplay of neural networks, neuromodulation, and neuronal firing patterns defines WM capabilities.