Dataset of human-single neuron activity during a Sternberg working memory task.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Human Electrophysiology

Background:

• Single-neuron recordings in humans are rare, limiting the study of neural mechanisms.
• The medial temporal lobe (amygdala, hippocampus) and medial frontal lobe (ACC, pre-SMA, vmPFC) are crucial for memory and executive functions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a comprehensive dataset of human single-neuron recordings from key brain regions.
• To enable research into the neural basis of working memory and concept selectivity in humans.

Main Methods:

• Recorded single-neuron activity from 21 patients undergoing epilepsy monitoring with depth electrodes.
• Collected data from 1809 neurons across screening and working memory tasks, formatted using Neurodata Without Borders standards.
• Included spike times, waveforms, stimuli, behavior, electrode locations, and demographics.

Main Results:

• The dataset includes recordings from the human amygdala, hippocampus, anterior cingulate cortex, pre-supplementary motor area, and ventral medial prefrontal cortex.
• Replicated previous findings on concept cell selectivity and persistent activity during working memory maintenance.
• The dataset facilitates the investigation of neural mechanisms of human working memory.

Conclusions:

• This large-scale dataset provides a valuable resource for studying human cognitive functions.
• It enables in-depth analysis of single-neuron activity related to working memory and concept representation.
• The findings pave the way for further research into the neural underpinnings of complex cognition.