Cortico-hippocampal mechanisms of short-term memory

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Markus Siegel
• Subject Area: Human Cognitive and Systems Neuroscience ; Cognitive, Systems and Behavioural Neurobiology
• Term: from 2014 to 2019
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 255020682

Short-term memory is a key component of intelligent behavior. The ability to briefly remember information allows us to combine information across time, to react to sensory inputs in a non-reflexive fashion, and generally provides context to our thoughts and actions. Persistent neuronal activity in the prefrontal cortex is thought to underlie short-term memory in the primate brain. During short-term memory, neuronal activity in the prefrontal cortex shows synchronized oscillations. These oscillations may reflect reverberant activity maintaining short-term memory information. Yet, the circuit mechanisms underlying prefrontal persistent activity during short-term memory remain largely unknown. The central goal of this project is to test the hypothesis that cortico-hippocampal interactions play a key role for these circuit mechanisms of short-term memory in the primate brain. To this end, we will combine multi-area microelectrode recordings and pharmacological inactivation techniques in monkeys performing a well-controlled short-term memory task. We will test 1) if short-term memory content is encoded in the primate hippocampus, 2) if the hippocampus shows oscillatory interactions with the prefrontal cortex during short-term memory, and 3) if persistent prefrontal activity depends on cortico-hippocampal interactions. In sum, this project aims to provide fundamental new insights into the neural mechanisms of short-term memory.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants