Laminar recordings in frontal cortex suggest distinct layers for maintenance and control of working memory
Open accessAbstract
Significance: The anatomy and dynamics of different layers of the cerebral cortex are distinct. Physiological work in the sensory cortex has investigated how different layers process sensory inputs, and how they are engaged during attention tasks. In the frontal and prefrontal cortices, where lamination is present, very few studies have investigated the role of distinct layers for cognition. We studied frontal cortex laminar neuronal activity as monkeys performed working memory tasks. Spiking and gamma-band activity (50–150 Hz) in the superficial layers reflected active maintenance of working memories. Alpha/beta frequencies (4–22 Hz) in the deep layers modulated the gamma activity in the superficial layers. This might serve a control function, allowing information to enter or exit active storage in superficial layers.
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Gamma power/spiking is anticorrelated with alpha/beta (8 to 30 Hz) power, which is higher under conditions of top-down control (e.g., attention and response inhibition).
“They are anticorrelated with alpha/beta (8 to 30 Hz) power (26–29), which is higher under conditions of top-down control (e.g., attention and response inhibition) (30–34).”
From Layer and rhythm specificity for predictive routing (2020) · cites this paper as [26]
The Results section (“Alpha/Beta Oscillations in Deep Layers Modulate Superficial Layers”) reports a negative correlation between deep-layer alpha/beta power and superficial gamma power, supporting the anticorrelation attributed to this source. The paper uses a 4–22 Hz alpha/beta band, rather than the stated 8–30 Hz band. The sentence cites other references for the separate claim about attention and response inhibition. (LLM, conf=0.84)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredGamma power is higher in superficial, feedforward, cortical layers, and alpha/beta power is higher in deep, feedback, cortical layers.
“This is consistent with gamma power being higher in the superficial, feedforward, cortical layers, and alpha/beta power being higher in the deep, feedback, cortical layers (26, 35–40).”
From Layer and rhythm specificity for predictive routing (2020) · cites this paper as [26]
The Results section, “Gamma Power Peaks in Superficial Layers and Alpha/Beta Peaks in Deep Layers” (page unavailable), directly reports the claimed power distribution. The Discussion links superficial-layer gamma to feedforward transmission in the visual system but says the function of feedforward connections in prefrontal cortex is undefined; our copy does not establish that the recorded deep layers are feedback layers. (LLM, conf=0.85)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredAlpha/beta oscillations in deep cortical layers are anticorrelated with superficial-layer gamma associated with spiking carrying sensory inputs.
“Further, alpha/beta oscillations in deep cortical layers are anticorrelated with superficial-layer gamma associated with spiking carrying sensory inputs (26, 27).”
From Layer and rhythm specificity for predictive routing (2020) · cites this paper as [26]
The Results section, “Alpha/Beta Oscillations in Deep Layers Modulate Superficial Layers,” reports a negative correlation between deep-layer alpha/beta power and superficial-layer gamma power. The Discussion section, “Delay Activity in Superficial Layers,” links superficial gamma and spiking to stimulus information held in working memory, but does not establish that the spiking carries sensory inputs. (LLM, conf=0.83)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredAll across cortex, gamma power (>35 Hz)/spiking is higher during bottom-up sensory inputs.
“A key observation is that, all across cortex, gamma power (>35 Hz)/spiking is higher during bottom-up sensory inputs.”
From Layer and rhythm specificity for predictive routing (2020) · cites this paper as [26]
The Results section reports that gamma bursts increased during the working-memory delay relative to baseline, and that gamma power peaked in superficial layers of the sampled frontal areas (page unavailable). Neither finding establishes higher gamma power or spiking during bottom-up sensory input across cortex. Searches for “bottom-up,” “sensory inputs,” and stimulus-onset comparisons found no passage making that claim. (LLM, conf=0.72)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
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- Authors
- Bastos, A. M., Loonis, R., Kornblith, S., Lundqvist, M., & Miller, E. K.
- Affiliations
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (US)
- Corresponding author
- Miller, Earl K.
- Venue
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
- Publisher
- National Academy of Sciences
- Published
- 2018-01-16
- Volume
- 115
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 1117-1122
- ISSN
- 0027-8424 (ISSN-L)
- 1091-6490
- PMC
- PMC5798320
- OpenAlex
- W2784079369
- Cited by
- 290
- References
- 36
- Citations by year
- 2026: 16 · 2025: 27 · 2024: 34 · 2023: 56 · 2022: 38 · 2021: 47 · 2020: 37 · 2019: 21 · 2018: 13 · 2017: 1
- FWCI
- 17.54
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- DSpace@MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc)
- Funders
- DOD | United States Navy | ONR | Office of Naval Research Global (ONR MURI N00014-16-1-2832)
- HHS | NIH | National Institute of Mental Health (R37MH087027)
- MIT Picower Innovation Fund
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural dynamics and brain function
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
- Keywords
- working memory, frontal cortex, cortical laminar organization, local field potentials, gamma oscillations, alpha and beta oscillations, prefrontal cortex, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, ventrolateral prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, supplementary motor area, primary motor cortex, neuronal spiking
- MeSH terms
- Action Potentials, Animals, Brain Mapping, Cognition, Electrodes, Frontal Lobe, Macaca mulatta, Memory, Short-Term, Neurons, Oscillometry, Visual Cortex, Prefrontal Cortex
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