# Neurophysiological Effects of Training in Visual Cognitive Tasks

> **NIH NIH R01** · VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $631,236

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
The study will investigate the neural mechanisms through which visual information is maintained in working
memory. The neural basis of working memory has been a matter of debate in recent years, with competing
theories proposing alternative neural correlates for its maintenance. Neurophysiological recordings will target
multiple subdivisions of the prefrontal cortex, a brain area implicated in working memory tasks, as well as the
anterior cingulate cortex, which has been implicated in learning to perform such tasks. Monkeys will be trained
in cognitive tasks that require them to observe and remember the identity of different visual objects, which can
be manipulated parametrically. A chronic array of microelectrodes will be implanted, and spike and local field
potential recordings will be acquired as the animals are trained to perform the working memory task, and as they
learn to perform the task with different stimulus sets. The experiment will allow us to determine the patterns of
neuronal activation that determine the behavioral performance in the task and adjudicate between competing
models. Analysis will determine changes at the level of single neurons, and neuronal populations, as well as
changes evident in the rhythmicity of local field potentials. The experiments will also uncover the nature of
changes that take place in the prefrontal cortex during training to perform an object working memory task and
uncover what aspects of neural activity are critical for task acquisition. Finally experiments will investigate the
flow of information within areas of the prefrontal cortex and between the prefrontal cortex and other cortical
areas. Collectively, these experiments will uncover the fundamental mechanisms through which the neural
circuits of the prefrontal cortex allow the maintenance of visual object information in working memory.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10812568
- **Project number:** 2R01EY017077-13A1
- **Recipient organization:** VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** CHRISTOS CONSTANTINIDIS
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $631,236
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2006-01-01 → 2027-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10812568

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10812568, Neurophysiological Effects of Training in Visual Cognitive Tasks (2R01EY017077-13A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-28 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10812568. Licensed CC0.

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