The cerebro-cerebellar communication in working memory: insights into the brain-wide neuronal computation

Project summary

Working memory is the ability to temporarily maintain and manipulate information to guide ongoing behaviour. Understanding the mechanisms underlying working memory remains a grant challenge in neuroscience. Previous studies have demonstrated that working memory involves co-activation of large-scale networks, particularly the PFC and cerebellum. Currently how such cerebro-cerebellar communication is involved in working memory remains to be illustrated. This project will research whether persistent communication between PFC and cerebellum plays a crucial role in the maintenance and modification of working memory, particularly during attention shifting.

In the long run, this Sino-Dutch cooperation will pave a way towards a fundamental understanding of brain-wide communication and shed light on the generic neuronal mechanisms of cognition.