Functional Dissociation Between Memory and Attention in Prefrontal Cortex of People and Monkeys

Principal Investigators: SYNNÖVE CARLSON1, YUANYE MA2

1Neuroscience Unit, Institute of Biomedicine/Physiology, University of Helsinki, Finland, 2Laboratory of Primate Cognitive Neuroscience, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Science, Kunming, China

During the last 20 years there have been major technical developments and, concurrently, new insights into the function of the frontal lobes of man and monkey. Research in humans has particularly benefited from the emergence of modern brain imaging techniques (PET, fMRI), which have enabled studies of the functional organization of working memory processing in the human brain. Furthermore, the development of a novel transcranial magnetic stimulation method, Navigated Brain Stimulation (NBS, Nexstim, ltd) enables spatially and temporally accurate transient disruption of brain function. The present research project is collaboration between the Laboratory of Primate Cognitive Neuroscience in the Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Science, Kunming, China and the Neuroscience unit, Institute of Biomedicine/Physiology, University of Helsinki, Finland. Parallel experiments in monkeys and people will be carried out to evaluate the importance of the PFCd in spatial working memory and, more specifically, its role in buffering information in working memory against interfering sensory stimuli. Neuronal recordings are performed in freely moving monkeys during the performance of working memory tasks (Kunming Institute of Zoology). The effects of PFCd lesions on working memory performance and related neuronal activity are studied in monkeys and, using Navigated Brain Stimulation, in humans. The project will provide novel information about the functions of the frontal lobes and about the neuronal mechanisms involved in attention and working memory.

Contact: syncarls(at)mappi.helsinki.fi, tel. +358 9 1912 5316