[Inferotemporal cortex and short term visual memory in monkeys. New data].

The effects of bilateral electrical stimulation of inferotemporal cotex on matching to sample were studied in four monkeys. Each session was defined by four different factors. 1. Number of stimuli: the same pair of stimuli (one-pair condition, OP) or a different pair of stimuli (multi-pair condition, MP) was used, from trail to trial. 2. Location of stimulation: anterior inferotemporal cortex (ITA) or posterior inferotemporal cortex (ITP). 3. No intra-trial delay (simultaneous match to sample, SMS) or 5-secintra-trial delay (delayed match to sample, DMS). 4. Period of stimulation: sample resentation, delay or match period. Stimulation had no effect on SMS in all the combinations of the three other factors. ITP or ITA stimulation had no effect on DMS when applied during the delay, in OP and in MP condition. ITP stimulation during the sample resentation produced a significant deficit in OP and MP condition. ITA stimulation during the match period produced a significant deficit in OP but not in MP condition.