Neural Ensemble Coding during Working Memory Task in Rat Prefrontal Cortex

Abstract

Working memory is one of important cognitive functions and recent studies demonstrate that prefrontal cortex plays an important role in working memory. But the issue that how neural activity encodes during working memory task is still a question that lies at the heart of cognitive neuroscience. The aim of this study is to investigate neural ensemble coding mechanism via average firing rate during working memory task. Neural population activity was measured simultaneously from multiple electrodes placed in prefrontal cortex while rats were performing a working memory task in Y-maze. Then the original data was filtered by a high-pass filtering, spike detection and spike sorting, spatio-temporal trains of neural population were ultimately obtained. Then, the average firing rates were computed in a selected window (500ms) with a moving step (125ms). The results showed that the average firing rate were higher during workinig memory task, along with obvious ensemble activity. Conclusion: The results indicate that the working memory information is encoded with neural ensemble activity.