UNIT-ACTIVITY OF THE PREFRONTAL CORTEX DURING DELAYED ALTERNATION PERFORMANCE IN MONKEY

  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 53  (3) , 345-353
Abstract
Unit activity in the dorsolateral regions of the prefrontal cortex (s. [sulous] principalis) of the monkey was analyzed by multineuronal recording. The sequence during delayed-response alternation included anticipatory stimulus, non-specific expectancy, conditioned cue, delay, trigger stimulus and alternation performance. Food reward completed the sequence. Unit activity in s. principalis was involved in such learning processes as integration of behavioral acts into an accomplished program and storage of traces in short-term memory. The latter can be observed in successive involvement of neuronal populations during a 10 s delay as well as in rearrangements of unit activity, the maximum of which shifts to the latest part of the delay period. Unit activity in s. principalis reflects the level of correct response, corresponding correlates of which depend on the level of attention. The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex has structural and functional characteristics for short-term storage of external signals in its neuronal nets according to the level of attention.

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