Which pattern best reflects the neural basis of memory that occurs during a delayed response task?
1 Neural activity is triggered by the sensory stimulus, persists at a diminished level after the stimulus is turned off, and lasts until the response occurs
2 Neural activity occurs primarily after the stimulus is turned off, and occurs in memory-specific brain areas.
3 Synapses change in strength during the course of performing the delayed response task.
4 None of the above.
None of the above.
The pattern that best reflects the neural basis of memory that occurs during a delayed response task is option 2: Neural activity occurs primarily after the stimulus is turned off and occurs in memory-specific brain areas. This pattern suggests that there is a delay between the presentation of the stimulus and the neural activity associated with memory formation.
To determine which pattern best reflects the neural basis of memory that occurs during a delayed response task, we can analyze the options provided:
1. Neural activity is triggered by the sensory stimulus, persists at a diminished level after the stimulus is turned off, and lasts until the response occurs.
This pattern describes sustained neural activity from the time of the sensory stimulus until the eventual response, suggesting a continuous involvement of neural processes. However, it does not specifically address memory formation during a delayed response task.
2. Neural activity occurs primarily after the stimulus is turned off and occurs in memory-specific brain areas.
This pattern suggests that memory-related neural activity occurs mainly after the sensory stimulus is removed and is localized in specific brain areas associated with memory processing. This option aligns more closely with the concept of memory formation in a delayed response task.
3. Synapses change in strength during the course of performing the delayed response task.
This option refers to synaptic plasticity, which is the ability of synapses to strengthen or weaken over time, potentially related to learning and memory processes. While it provides insight into the neural basis of memory encoding, it does not specifically address the temporal pattern of neural activity during a delayed response task.
Considering the above analysis, option 2: "Neural activity occurs primarily after the stimulus is turned off and occurs in memory-specific brain areas" is the closest match to reflect the neural basis of memory during a delayed response task.