Working Memory Network Task Reveals Brain Areas Involved in Goal-Directed Retention

Abstract

Working Memory (WM) provides temporary storage and processing of information to enable goal-directed behavior. According to the cognits framework, WM arises from the interaction of perceptual and executive neuronal ensembles, with the latest contributing to the maintenance and prioritization of goal-relevant information. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that explicit memorization goals would preferentially engage executive neural mechanisms during information retention. We used a Working Memory Network Task and conducted a source level analysis of oscillatory activity during the retention of the multimodal stimulus under conditions where there was explicit goal to memorize the stimulus and where no such goal was present. The data of twenty-nine healthy adults was used for the analysis. Source reconstruction was performed using Dynamic Imaging of Coherent Sources (DICS), and condition differences were assessed using cluster-based permutation statistics across theta (4–8 Hz), alpha (8–14 Hz), beta (14–30 Hz), and gamma (30–80 Hz) frequency bands. We found that goaldirected information retention is accompanied by increased theta activity in frontal cortical regions and beta activity in occipital regions. In contrast, retention without a goal was characterized by increased theta and alpha activity in parietal regions, as well as distributed beta activity in frontal and inferior parietal areas. These results confirm the distinction between executive and perceptual cognits predicted by the theoretical model.