RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Canonical goal-selective representations are absent from prefrontal cortex in a spatial working memory task requiring behavioral flexibility
JF bioRxiv
FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
SP 2020.09.11.292888
DO 10.1101/2020.09.11.292888
A1 Claudia Böhm
A1 Albert K. Lee
YR 2020
UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2020/09/11/2020.09.11.292888.abstract
AB The prefrontal cortex (PFC)’s functions are thought to include working memory, as its activity can reflect information that must be temporarily maintained to realize the current goal. We designed a flexible spatial working memory task that required rats to navigate - after distractions and a delay - to multiple possible goal locations from different starting points and via multiple routes. This made the current goal location the key variable to remember, instead of a particular direction or route to the goal. However, across a broad population of PFC neurons, we found no evidence of current-goal-specific memory in any previously reported form - i.e. differences in the rate, sequence, phase or covariance of firing. This suggests such patterns do not hold working memory in the PFC when information must be employed flexibly. Instead, the PFC grouped locations representing behaviorally equivalent task features together, consistent with a role in encoding long-term knowledge of task structure.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.