Ep.56. Can the Human Brain's Visual Working Memory Be Mapped?

"A neural system for human visual working memory" by LESLIE G. UNGERLEIDER, SUSAN M. COURTNEY, AND JAMES V. HAXBY Summary This 1998 paper by Ungerleider, Courtney, and Haxby reviews neuroimaging research on visual working memory, comparing findings in monkeys and humans. It establishes that visual processing in both species involves distinct ventral (object) and dorsal (spatial) streams extending from the visual cortex into the prefrontal cortex, maintaining a domain specificity in working memory. However, crucial differences are highlighted, notably the superior and posterior displacement of spatial processing areas in the human prefrontal cortex, potentially linked to the evolution of language and uniquely human cognitive functions. The authors use data from PET and fMRI studies to support the argument that human prefrontal cortex, like that of monkeys, exhibits domain specificity in visual working memory, although some lateralization differences are also observed. Ultimately, the paper aims to understand the neural mechanisms underpinning visual working memory, illustrating the conserved yet divergent aspects of its organisation across primate species.

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