Distractor-Specific Single Neuron Activity Predicts Visual Working Memory Task Outcomes

Authors

  • Jia Lakhamraju Singapore American School
  • Mare Stewart Singapore American School

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47611/jsrhs.v12i3.4901

Keywords:

Visual Working Memory, distractor suppression, firing rate, Lateral Prefrontal Cortex, ADHD

Abstract

This paper explores the relationship between neural activity and behavioral performance in the form of visual working memory (VWM) task outcomes, by answering the question: Are there any significant differences in the firing rates of individual neurons during the distractor presentation period of a VWM task between success and error trials that can predict the outcome of a trial? Distractor-specific single neuron firing rates during a VWM task were analyzed to answer this question. A logistic regression was used to identify the predictive capability of neural firing rate on trial outcome with the neural activity of 51 cells from the lateral prefrontal cortex (LPFC) of a primate. This study found that a best-fit logistic model could predict the behavioral performance of the primate (success or error of the VWM task) with 63.01% accuracy, with additional machine learning techniques producing scores upwards of 68% accuracy. Moreover, greater firing rates in response to the distractor, indicating less efficient distractor suppression, accompanied the error trials of the VWM task. This suggests that stronger neural responses to task-specific distractors can hinder the attentional filtering required for efficient working memory, supporting previous research that found that distractor suppression is a mechanism that heavily influences WM efficiency. These findings indicate that people, particularly children, with disorders that affect WM capacity such as ADHD may experience stronger neural responses to distractors, and therefore inefficient distractor suppression, at the single neuron level when engaging in goal-oriented behaviors, which can significantly impact learning and other developmental processes.

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Author Biographies

Jia Lakhamraju, Singapore American School

Student author of the study.

Mare Stewart, Singapore American School

Head of English for the Quest program at Singapore American School.

References or Bibliography

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Published

08-31-2023

How to Cite

Lakhamraju, J., & Stewart, M. (2023). Distractor-Specific Single Neuron Activity Predicts Visual Working Memory Task Outcomes. Journal of Student Research, 12(3). https://doi.org/10.47611/jsrhs.v12i3.4901

Issue

Section

HS Research Articles