Journal Article

DZNE-2025-00750

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Neural dynamics of visual working memory representation during sensory distraction.

Degutis, J. K. ; Weber, S. ; Soch, J.DZNE* ; Haynes, J.-D.

2025
eLife Sciences Publications Cambridge

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Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.7554/eLife.99290

Abstract: Recent studies have provided evidence for the concurrent encoding of sensory percepts and visual working memory (VWM) contents across visual areas; however, it has remained unclear how these two types of representations are concurrently present. Here, we reanalyzed an open-access fMRI dataset where participants memorized a sensory stimulus while simultaneously being presented with sensory distractors. First, we found that the VWM code in several visual regions did not fully generalize between different time points, suggesting a dynamic code. A more detailed analysis revealed that this was due to shifts in coding spaces across time. Second, we collapsed neural signals across time to assess the degree of interference between VWM contents and sensory distractors, specifically by testing the alignment of their encoding spaces. We find that VWM and feature-matching sensory distractors are encoded in coding spaces that do not fully overlap, but the separation decreases when distractors negatively impact behavioral performance in recalling the target. Together, these results indicate a role of dynamic coding and temporally stable coding spaces in helping multiplex perception and VWM within visual areas.

Keyword(s): Humans (MeSH) ; Memory, Short-Term: physiology (MeSH) ; Visual Perception: physiology (MeSH) ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MeSH) ; Male (MeSH) ; Female (MeSH) ; Adult (MeSH) ; Young Adult (MeSH) ; Photic Stimulation (MeSH) ; Attention: physiology (MeSH) ; dynamic coding ; human ; neural subspaces ; neuroscience ; sensory distraction ; working memory

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. Clinical Dementia Research (Göttingen) (Clinical Dementia Research (Göttingen))

Research Program(s):

1. 353 - Clinical and Health Care Research (POF4-353) (POF4-353)

Appears in the scientific report 2025

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