A neural region of abstract working memory.
Nelson Cowan, Dawei Li, Amanda Moffitt, Theresa M Becker, Elizabeth A Martin, J Scott Saults, Shawn E Christ
Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience October 2011 DOI: 10.1162/jocn.2011.21625 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational fMRI study with replication across two experiments Peer reviewed |
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| Key findings | A region in the left intraparietal sulcus showed load-dependent working-memory activity for both visual stimuli alone and combined visual-auditory stimuli, and this result replicated across two experiments with different participants and methods. The authors suggest the region, previously associated with visual working memory, holds or refers to information from more than one modality. |
Abstract
Over 350 years ago, Descartes proposed that the neural basis of consciousness must be a brain region in which sensory inputs are combined. Using fMRI, we identified at least one such area for working memory, the limited information held in mind, described by William James as the trailing edge of consciousness. Specifically, a region in the left intraparietal sulcus was found to demonstrate load-dependent activity for either visual stimuli (colored squares) or a combination of visual and auditory stimuli (spoken letters). This result was replicated across two experiments with different participants and methods. The results suggest that this brain region, previously well known for working memory of visually presented materials, actually holds or refers to information from more than one modality.
Citations in the library
Cited by 2
- Big-tent versus small-tent views of the brain mechanisms underlying consciousness. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews July 13, 2026
- The interplay of visual short-term memory, attention, and consciousness: A PRISMA systematic review of behavioral and neuroimaging studies with partial report and change detection. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews October 1, 2025