Interference theory

About: Interference theory is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 1735 publications have been published within this topic receiving 139908 citations.

Storage and executive processes in the frontal lobes.

Abstract: The human frontal cortex helps mediate working memory, a system that is used for temporary storage and manipulation of information and that is involved in many higher cognitive functions. Working memory includes two components: short-term storage (on the order of seconds) and executive processes that operate on the contents of storage. Recently, these two components have been investigated in functional neuroimaging studies. Studies of storage indicate that different frontal regions are activated for different kinds of information: storage for verbal materials activates Broca's area and left-hemisphere supplementary and premotor areas; storage of spatial information activates the right-hemisphere premotor cortex; and storage of object information activates other areas of the prefrontal cortex. Two of the fundamental executive processes are selective attention and task management. Both processes activate the anterior cingulate and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex.

The relations among inhibition and interference control functions: a latent-variable analysis.

Abstract: This study used data from 220 adults to examine the relations among 3 inhibition-related functions. Confirmatory factor analysis suggested that Prepotent Response Inhibition and Resistance to Distractor Interference were closely related, but both were unrelated to Resistance to Proactive Interference. Structural equation modeling, which combined Prepotent Response Inhibition and Resistance to Distractor Interference into a single latent variable, indicated that 1 aspect of random number generation performance, task-switching ability, and everyday cognitive failures were related to Response-Distractor Inhibition, whereas reading span recall and unwanted intrusive thoughts were related to Resistance to Proactive Interference. These results suggest that the term inhibition has been overextended and that researchers need to be more specific when discussing and measuring inhibition-related functions.

An application of prefrontal cortex function theory to cognitive aging.

Abstract: The purpose of this review is to extend the existing application of the frontal lobe hypothesis of cognitive aging beyond the limited work on inhibitory control (F. N. Dempster, 1992) to include memory processes supported by the prefrontal cortex. To establish a background for this analysis, I review existing models of prefrontal cortex function and present a synthesized model that includes a general function of temporal integration, supported by 4 specific processes: prospective memory, retrospective memory, interference control, and inhibition of prepotent responses. I found the frontal lobe hypothesis to perform well, with the exception of an inability to account for age-related declines in item recall and recognition memory, possibly a result of age-related declines in medial temporal function.

Circuitry of Primate Prefrontal Cortex and Regulation of Behavior by Representational Memory

Abstract: The sections in this article are: 1 Essence of Prefrontal Function: Regulation of Behavior by Representational Knowledge 11 Subdivisions of Prefrontal Cortex 12 Global Nature of Prefrontal Syndrome in Humans 13 Animal Model for Prefrontal Function in Humans 14 Delayed-Response Tests and Varying Interpretations of Their Functional Significance 15 Distractability and Perseveration: Secondary Consequences of Basic Defect in Representational Memory 16 Representational Memory in Wisconsin Card Sort and Other Diagnostic Tests of Prefrontal Function in Humans 17 Localization of Delayed-Response Function: Principal Sulcus 18 Circuit Basis of Visuospatial Functions 2 Accessing and “On-Line” Processing of Representations in Visuospatial Domain: Parietal-Prefrontal Connections 21 Visuospatial Representational Memory in Humans 22 Spatial-Mnemonic Nature of Delayed-Response Deficit: Domain-Specific Memory Loss 23 Topography of Representational Memory in Prefrontal Cortex 24 Electrophysiological Evidence of Spatial-Mnemonic Processes in Principal Sulcus 25 Parietal-Prefrontal Connectivity 26 Columnar and Laminar Framework for Feedforward and Feedback Mechanisms 27 Functional Significance of Parietal-Prefrontal Collaboration 3 Long-Term Memory and “Off-Line” Processing: Prefrontal-Limbic Connections 31 Role of Hippocampus in Spatial Memory 32 Multiple Connections Between Principal Sulcus and Hippocampal Formation 33 Quadripartite Neural Network: Parietal-Temporal-Cingulate-Prefrontal Circuit 34 Limbic Contribution to Spatial Memory 4 Response Initiation and Inhibition: Projections to Striatum, Tectum, Thalamus, and Premotor Cortex 41 Motor-Control Functions of Prefrontal Cortex 42 Cortical-Striatal Pathway and Related Feedback Loops 43 Cortical-Tectal Pathway 44 Thalamic-Cortical Systems 45 Prefrontal-Premotor Connections: Anterior Supplementary Motor Cortex Relays 46 Functional Speculations 5 Modulatory Mechanisms: Brain Stem Catecholamine Projections 51 Activation of Cognitive Machinery 52 Concentration and Synthesis of Catecholamines in Primate Cortex 53 Brain Stem Innervation of Prefrontal Cortex 54 Delayed-Response Deficits and Recovery Produced by Catecholamine Loss and Replacement in Prefrontal Cortex 55 Circuit Basis for Neuromodulation in Principal Sulcus 6 Multiple Subsystems of Prefrontal Cortex: Unity or Diversity of Function 61 Unity or Diversity of Prefrontal Function 62 Frontal Eye Fields 63 Inferior Convexity 64 Orbital Prefrontal Cortices 65 Problem of Integration 7 Diseases Affecting Prefrontal Cortex 71 Schizophrenia: Loss of Corticocortical Processing and Regulation of Behavior by Representational Knowledge 72 Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome: Loss of Thalamocortical and Brain Stem Modulatory Mechanisms 73 Huntington's Chorea and Parkinson's Disease: Loss of Prefrontal-Striatal Mechanisms and Initiation or Inhibition of Motor Response 74 Overview of Neurobiology of Disease 8 Summary

Temporal dynamics of brain activation during a working memory task

Abstract: Working memory is responsible for the short-term storage and online manipulation of information necessary for higher cognitive functions, such as language, planning and problem-solving. Traditionally, working memory has been divided into two types of processes: executive control (governing the encoding manipulation and retrieval of information in working memory) and active maintenance (keeping information available 'online'). It has also been proposed that these two types of processes may be subserved by distinct cortical structures, with the prefrontal cortex housing the executive control processes, and more posterior regions housing the content-specific buffers (for example verbal versus visuospatial) responsible for active maintenance. However, studies in non-human primates suggest that dorsolateral regions of the prefrontal cortex may also be involved in active maintenance. We have used functional magnetic resonance imaging to examine brain activation in human subjects during performance of a working memory task. We used the temporal resolution of this technique to examine the dynamics of regional activation, and to show that prefrontal cortex along with parietal cortex appears to play a role in active maintenance.