Link between working and long term memory in the human hippocampus
Not much is known about how working memory (WM) and long-term memory (LTM) systems interact although it is assumed that they work as separate cognitive systems.
The researchers show that in the human hippocampus, persistent working memory activity of memoranda-selective neurons predicts successful long-term memory (LTM).
LTM retrieval, in turn, activates memory-selective neurons more strongly for items that were previously maintained with strong working memory activity, suggesting a shared neural mechanism supporting both memory systems.
