Neural mechanism of updating short-term memory during oculomotor n-back task in monkeys

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 22K19476
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 51:Brain sciences and related fields
• Research Institution: Hokkaido University
• Principal Investigator: Tanaka Masaki 北海道大学, 医学研究院, 教授 (90301887)
• Project Period (FY): 2022-06-30 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 作業記憶 / 中央実行系 / 消去 / 保続 / n-back / 前頭前野 / 眼球運動 / 非ヒト霊長類

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Working memory is a brain function that temporarily holds information and selects, manipulates, and updates it, which is necessary for complex behavioral control, conversation, and thinking. This functional system is located in the frontal association cortex, consisting of the short-term memory storages (the lower system) and the central executive system (the higher system) that operates them. Although there are many reports on the neural activity during memory retention, the neural mechanism of the central executive system remains largely unknown. In this study, we trained monkeys on a modified n-back task, a test of frontal lobe function, to explore neural activity during memory updating. We found that some neurons in the lateral prefrontal cortex were specifically active during memory updating, and that electrical stimulation of the same area erased specific visuospatial memories.

Free Research Field

システム神経科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

ヒトの複雑な行動を制御するために前頭連合野は不可欠である。作業記憶はその中心となる機能であり、統合失調症や認知症をはじめとする多くの疾患で障害されることがよく知られている。とくに、短期記憶を更新できない保続は、前頭葉機能障害を評価する上で臨床的にも重要である。本研究はその機能メカニズムの一端を神経細胞のレベルで明らかにしたものであり、新規性が高く、学術的に重要である。また、特定の記憶を消去する技術は将来的に保続などの症状を改善させる医療技術への応用につながるものと期待される。