Abstract
To investigate the neuronal mechanism for selection process of a target from an array of stimuli, we analyzed neuronal activity of lateral prefrontal cortex during the response period of a serial probe reproduction task. Monkeys were trained to memorize two sequentially presented objects, retrieve one target object from two memorized objects based on the color stimulus and then select that target object from an array of three objects presented during the response period. Of 611 recorded neurons, 92 showed visual response during the response period. Forty-five neurons showed array selectivity, and 20 showed both array and target selectivities. Most neurons with visual response were recorded from the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (VLPFC). On the other hand, 78 neurons showed presaccadic activity. Of these, activities of 55 neurons were determined by the direction of saccadic eye movement. Neurons with presaccadic activity were recorded from both the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and the VLPFC. These results suggest that the VLPFC plays a role in selection process of a target object from an array of stimuli, and the DLPFC and VLPFC play a role in generation of saccadic movement. [Jpn J Physiol 55 Suppl:S184 (2005)]
