Mental chronometry of working memory retrieval: a combined functional magnetic resonance imaging and event-related potentials approach.
We used the combination of functional magnetic resonance imaging and event-related potentials to decompose the processing stages (mental chronometry) of working memory retrieval. Our results reveal an early transient activation of inferotemporal cortex, which was accompanied by the onset of a sustained activation of posterior parietal cortex. We furthermore observed late transient responses in ventrolateral prefrontal cortex and late sustained activity in medial frontal and premotor areas. We propose that these neural signatures reflect the cognitive stages of task processing, perceptual evaluation (inferotemporal cortex), storage buffer operations (posterior parietal cortex), active retrieval (ventrolateral prefrontal cortex), and action selection (medial frontal and premotor cortex). This is also supported by their differential temporal contribution to specific subcomponents of the P300 cognitive potential.
Bledowski
Christoph
C
Department of Psychiatry, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, 60590 Frankfurt, Germany.
Cohen Kadosh
Kathrin
K
Wibral
Michael
M
Rahm
Benny
B
Bittner
Robert A
RA
Hoechstetter
Karsten
K
Scherg
Michael
M
Maurer
Konrad
K
Goebel
Rainer
R
Linden
David E J
DE
D000328:Adult; D002909:Chronobiology Phenomena / Q000502:physiology*; D004193:Discrimination Learning / Q000502:physiology; D018913:Event-Related Potentials, P300 / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology