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Neural correlates of working memory development in adolescent primates

Author

Listed:
  • Xin Zhou

    (Wake Forest School of Medicine
    Stanford University)

  • Dantong Zhu

    (Wake Forest School of Medicine)

  • Xue-Lian Qi

    (Wake Forest School of Medicine)

  • Sihai Li

    (Wake Forest School of Medicine)

  • Samson G. King

    (Wake Forest School of Medicine)

  • Emilio Salinas

    (Wake Forest School of Medicine)

  • Terrence R. Stanford

    (Wake Forest School of Medicine)

  • Christos Constantinidis

    (Wake Forest School of Medicine)

Abstract

Working memory ability matures after puberty, in parallel with structural changes in the prefrontal cortex, but little is known about how changes in prefrontal neuronal activity mediate this cognitive improvement in primates. To address this issue, we compare behavioural performance and neurophysiological activity in monkeys as they transitioned from puberty into adulthood. Here we report that monkeys perform working memory tasks reliably during puberty and show modest improvement in adulthood. The adult prefrontal cortex is characterized by increased activity during the delay period of the task but no change in the representation of stimuli. Activity evoked by distracting stimuli also decreases in the adult prefrontal cortex. The increase in delay period activity relative to the baseline activity of prefrontal neurons is the best correlate of maturation and is not merely a consequence of improved performance. Our results reveal neural correlates of the working memory improvement typical of primate adolescence.

Suggested Citation

  • Xin Zhou & Dantong Zhu & Xue-Lian Qi & Sihai Li & Samson G. King & Emilio Salinas & Terrence R. Stanford & Christos Constantinidis, 2016. "Neural correlates of working memory development in adolescent primates," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:7:y:2016:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms13423
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms13423
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    Cited by:

    1. David Florentino Montez & Finnegan J Calabro & Beatriz Luna, 2019. "Working memory improves developmentally as neural processes stabilize," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(3), pages 1-15, March.

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