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Working memory control dynamics follow principles of spatial computing

Author

Listed:
  • Mikael Lundqvist

    (Karolinska Institute
    Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

  • Scott L. Brincat

    (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

  • Jonas Rose

    (Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Ruhr University Bochum)

  • Melissa R. Warden

    (Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Cornell University)

  • Timothy J. Buschman

    (Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Princeton University)

  • Earl K. Miller

    (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

  • Pawel Herman

    (School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science & Digital Futures, KTH Royal Institute of Technology)

Abstract

Working memory (WM) allows us to remember and selectively control a limited set of items. Neural evidence suggests it is achieved by interactions between bursts of beta and gamma oscillations. However, it is not clear how oscillations, reflecting coherent activity of millions of neurons, can selectively control individual WM items. Here we propose the novel concept of spatial computing where beta and gamma interactions cause item-specific activity to flow spatially across the network during a task. This way, control-related information such as item order is stored in the spatial activity independent of the detailed recurrent connectivity supporting the item-specific activity itself. The spatial flow is in turn reflected in low-dimensional activity shared by many neurons. We verify these predictions by analyzing local field potentials and neuronal spiking. We hypothesize that spatial computing can facilitate generalization and zero-shot learning by utilizing spatial component as an additional information encoding dimension.

Suggested Citation

  • Mikael Lundqvist & Scott L. Brincat & Jonas Rose & Melissa R. Warden & Timothy J. Buschman & Earl K. Miller & Pawel Herman, 2023. "Working memory control dynamics follow principles of spatial computing," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:14:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-023-36555-4
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36555-4
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Mattia Rigotti & Omri Barak & Melissa R. Warden & Xiao-Jing Wang & Nathaniel D. Daw & Earl K. Miller & Stefano Fusi, 2013. "The importance of mixed selectivity in complex cognitive tasks," Nature, Nature, vol. 497(7451), pages 585-590, May.
    2. Matthew F. Panichello & Timothy J. Buschman, 2021. "Shared mechanisms underlie the control of working memory and attention," Nature, Nature, vol. 592(7855), pages 601-605, April.
    3. Mikael Lundqvist & Pawel Herman & Melissa R. Warden & Scott L. Brincat & Earl K. Miller, 2018. "Gamma and beta bursts during working memory readout suggest roles in its volitional control," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-12, December.
    4. Ho Ko & Lee Cossell & Chiara Baragli & Jan Antolik & Claudia Clopath & Sonja B. Hofer & Thomas D. Mrsic-Flogel, 2013. "The emergence of functional microcircuits in visual cortex," Nature, Nature, vol. 496(7443), pages 96-100, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Johan Liljefors & Rita Almeida & Gustaf Rane & Johan N. Lundström & Pawel Herman & Mikael Lundqvist, 2024. "Distinct functions for beta and alpha bursts in gating of human working memory," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-15, December.

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