Coding of Objects in the Prefrontal Cortex in Monkeys and Humans

Abstract

The prefrontal cortex is an area of high-level association cortex that plays an important part in the processing of visual objects. In this update, we summarize recent experimental findings that have investigated object processing in the frontal cortex in monkeys and humans. We highlight several common themes that have emerged from the study of these different systems, including the short-term maintenance of object information in working memory and the processing of novel information. Together, these findings suggest that regions of the prefrontal cortex participate in the selection, maintenance, and evaluation of task-relevant attributes. At a larger level, the convergence of findings from monkey and human studies demonstrates that concurrent investigation of scientific questions in both species can be a fruitful approach and promises to lead to future advances.