2024 Speech and Hearing Science Spring Colloquium Series: Working Memory Enhances Information Processing in Visual Cortex

This session will focus on working memory and information processing in the visual cortex. Working memory is pivotal for executive functions and adaptive, goal-oriented behavior. Its importance becomes particularly evident in cognitive disorders such as Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia, autism, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, where impairment of working memory is observed. While it is acknowledged that both prefrontal and visual areas contribute to working memory, the precise dynamics of their interaction remain elusive. In this presentation, I will delve into the neural underpinnings of working memory using neurophysiological recordings of single-unit activity and local field potentials from the prefrontal and visual cortices. Initially, we will examine the activity of single neurons in the prefrontal cortex to discern the nature of information transmitted to visual areas during the maintenance of working memory. Subsequently, an exploration of neural data from the visual cortex will shed light on how working memory signals influence information processing at the level of individual neurons, neuronal populations, and local field potentials. Join me in unraveling the complexities of working memory and its impact on the intricate web of information processing within the visual cortex.