Working memory for location and time: Activity in prefrontal area 46 relates to selection rather than maintenance in memory

The role of the dorsal prefrontal cortex in working memory remains controve rsial. Influential proposals include a role in the maintenance of domain-sp ecific information, and the processes of executive functions on remembered information. We used event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging to demonstrate a functional dissociation within prefrontal cortex in terms of the components of complex working memory tasks. The maintenance in working memory of spatial locations and their temporal order was associated with a ctivation of area 8 and intraparietal cortex. In contrast, the selection of one location, according to its order, was associated with a distinct front oparietal network, including dorsolateral prefrontal area 46, ventrolateral prefrontal cortex and anterior cingulate cortex and medial parietal cortex . The different contributions of these areas to selection are considered in the light of recent electrophysiological and lesion studies. We suggest a general role of the dorsolateral prefrontal area 46 in attentional selectio n, including selection from within working memory. (C) 2001 Academic Press.