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1

THE ROLE OF THE VENTRAL PREFRONTAL CORTEX IN WORKING MEMORY

100%

Szatkowska I.

Psychological Studies

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2005

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vol. 43

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issue 1

29-36

EN

Working memory system is responsible for short-term storage and on-line manipulation of information necessary for higher cognitive functions. This conception of working memory assumes that it involves processes that monitor and maintain incoming information, as well as processes that update this information. Several studies have attributed these processes to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. However, there is a growing body of evidence that the ventromedial portion of the prefrontal cortex is also implicated. The present paper reviews current clinical and neuroimaging data showing the role of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex in operations that have been attributed to the working memory system.

2

BRAIN CORRELATES OF THE INCREASING WORKING MEMORY LOAD - AN FMRI STUDY

80%

Binder M., Sobiecka B., Kozub J.

Psychological Studies

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2005

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vol. 43

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issue 1

17-28

EN

The aim of the study was identification of the functional anatomy of the cerebral regions, whose activity correlates with increasing working memory load, irrespective of the stimulus type. To address this problem, the authors used a version of the n-back task with two levels of difficulty (2-back and 3-back) and two types of memory stimuli: letters and colorful abstract patterns. Brain activity was measured with functional MRI. The resulting statistical maps showed four cortical regions, whose activity was significantly higher during performance of 3-back tasks than during performance of 2-back tasks. These areas included dorso-lateral prefrontal cortex, representing continuous updating of working memory; anterior cingulate - region responsible for conflict monitoring. Two remaining regions were located within the left parietal lobe and their activity represented frontally controlled attentional bias (precuneus) and the passive storage of phonological information (supramarginal gyrus).

3

The neurobiology of social cognition

61%

Keri S.

Magyar Pszichologiai Szemle (Hungarian Psychological Review)

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2005

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vol. 60

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issue 4

433-455

EN

Many aspects of our everyday cognition are concerned with the representation of self and others. How are we able to generate intentional actions and distinguish that from external stimuli? What is the role of inner body signals in the emergence of self-consciousness and perception of social signals? What are the bases of intersubjectivity and empathy? How can we represent the beliefs and intentions of others independently of the physical reality (mentalization)? Novel data from neuropsychology and functional neuroimaging demonstrate that functional connections between prefrontal cortex and sensory areas are critical in the discrimination of internally generated actions from external events. Specific brain areas, such as the amygdala and the posterior superior temporal cortex, participate in the processing of social signals, whereas the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex is crucial for mentalization. Finally, mirror neurons, which show responses during intentional actions and observation of others performing those actions, exist in many brain areas and establish the foundations of intersubjectivity and the biological roots of mimetic culture. Some cortical areas containing mirror neurons are also related to language processing. Discovering brain mechanisms of social cognition may change fundamental views about the philosophy of mind and may provide a new possibility to understand psychiatric disorders.

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2 Psychological Studies

1 Magyar Pszichologiai Szemle (Hungarian Psychological Review)

3 2005

1 Binder M.

1 Keri S.

1 Kozub J.

1 Sobiecka B.

1 Szatkowska I.

THE ROLE OF THE VENTRAL PREFRONTAL CORTEX IN WORKING MEMORY

BRAIN CORRELATES OF THE INCREASING WORKING MEMORY LOAD - AN FMRI STUDY

The neurobiology of social cognition