The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
Neuron. 2010 Jun 10;66(5):796-807. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2010.05.005.
Neural correlates of visual categories have been previously identified in the prefrontal cortex (PFC). However, whether individual neurons can represent multiple categories is unknown. Varying degrees of generalization versus specialization of neurons in the PFC have been theorized. We recorded from lateral PFC neural activity while monkeys switched between two different and independent categorical distinctions (Cats versus Dogs, Sports Cars versus Sedans). We found that many PFC neurons reflected both categorical distinctions. In fact, these multitasking neurons had the strongest category effects. This stands in contrast to our lab's recent report that monkeys switching between competing categorical distinctions (applied to the same stimulus set) showed independent representations. We suggest that cognitive demands determine whether PFC neurons function as category "multitaskers."
先前已经在大脑前额叶皮层（PFC）中鉴定出了视觉类别的神经关联。然而，单个神经元是否可以表示多个类别尚不清楚。有人推测 PFC 中的神经元具有不同程度的泛化与专业化。当猴子在两种不同且独立的类别区分（猫与狗、跑车与轿车）之间切换时，我们记录了猴子外侧前额叶皮层的神经活动。我们发现许多 PFC 神经元反映了这两种类别区分。事实上，这些多任务处理神经元具有最强的类别效应。这与我们实验室最近的报告形成了对比，该报告表明，当猴子在相互竞争的类别区分（应用于相同的刺激集）之间切换时，表现出独立的表示。我们认为，认知需求决定了 PFC 神经元是否作为类别“多任务处理者”发挥作用。
