Working Memory 2.0
Schedule
Thursday, May 7, 2020
10:00 UTC
Earl Miller
Prof
Picower Institute, MIT
Host: MIT Brain Science
Recording
Open recording
Event Information
Recording
Available
Host
MIT Brain Science
Duration
70 minutes
Abstract
Working memory is the sketchpad of consciousness, the fundamental mechanism the brain uses to gain volitional control over its thoughts and actions. For the past 50 years, working memory has been thought to rely on cortical neurons that fire continuous impulses that keep thoughts “online”. However, new work from our lab has revealed more complex dynamics. The impulses fire sparsely and interact with brain rhythms of different frequencies. Higher frequency gamma (> 35 Hz) rhythms help carry the contents of working memory while lower frequency alpha/beta (~8-30 Hz) rhythms act as control signals that gate access to and clear out working memory. In other words, a rhythmic dance between brain rhythms may underlie your ability to control your own thoughts.
Topics
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