2024/06/14 by Jiepin Huang, Tian Wang, Weifeng Dai +6 · 1 voice · 2 citations
Neuroscience · #Neural dynamics and brain function #Visual perception and processing mechanisms #Memory and Neural Mechanisms
paper · pdf · doi:10.1126/sciadv.adk3953
openalex publication_date 2024/06/14 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/05/21
The human ability to perceive vivid memories as if they "float" before our eyes, even in the absence of actual visual stimuli, captivates the imagination. To determine the neural substrates underlying visual memories, we investigated the neuronal representation of working memory content in the primary visual cortex of monkeys. Our study revealed that neurons exhibit unique responses to different memory contents, using firing patterns distinct from those observed during the perception of external visual stimuli. Moreover, this neuronal representation evolves with alterations in the recalled content and extends beyond the retinotopic areas typically reserved for processing external visual input. These discoveries shed light on the visual encoding of memories and indicate avenues for understanding the remarkable power of the mind's eye.