Tuned responses to visual short-term memory load in a frontoparietal topographic map hierarchy Article Swipe
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· 2023
· Open Access
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· DOI: https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-2560452/v1
· OA: W4320718883
<title>Abstract</title> Visual short-term memory (VSTM), intentionally remembering image features, relies on interacting sensory and executive processes. Sensory processing relies on tuned responses, organized in hierarchical networks of topographic maps. How does the brain distribute responses to task demands across neural populations? We examined neural responses to the number of remembered visual items (VSTM load) using ultra-high field fMRI (7T). We describe neural populations showing tuned responses to VSTM load in an extensive series of topographic maps, hierarchically increasing in VSTM load preferences from posterior sensory to anterior executive areas. These responses are absent when viewing the same stimuli without varying task demands, and appear unrelated to response preferences for visual position and numerosity. These results generalize principles of neural tuning, topographic organization, and hierarchical transformations from sensory encoding to distribution of task demands across neural populations.
