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Enhanced role of the entorhinal cortex in adapting to increased working memory load

Author

Listed:
  • Jiayi Yang

    (Capital Normal University)

  • Dan Cao

    (Capital Normal University)

  • Chunyan Guo

    (Capital Normal University)

  • Lennart Stieglitz

    (University of Zurich)

  • Debora Ledergerber

    (Clinic Lengg)

  • Johannes Sarnthein

    (University of Zurich
    ETH Zurich)

  • Jin Li

    (Capital Normal University)

Abstract

In daily life, we frequently encounter varying demands on working memory (WM), yet how the brain adapts to high WM load remains unclear. To address this question, we recorded intracranial EEG from hippocampus, entorhinal cortex (EC), and lateral temporal cortex (LTC) in humans performing a task with varying WM loads (load 4, 6, and 8). Using multivariate machine learning analysis, we decoded WM load using the power from each region as neural features. The results showed that the EC exhibited both higher decoding accuracy on medium-to-high load and superior cross-regional generalization. Further analysis revealed that removing EC-related information significantly reduced residual decoding accuracy in the hippocampus and LTC. Additionally, we found that WM maintenance was associated with enhanced phase synchronization between the EC and other regions. This inter-regional communication increased as WM load rose. These results suggest that under higher WM load, the brain relies more on the EC, a key connector that links and shares information with the hippocampus and LTC.

Suggested Citation

  • Jiayi Yang & Dan Cao & Chunyan Guo & Lennart Stieglitz & Debora Ledergerber & Johannes Sarnthein & Jin Li, 2025. "Enhanced role of the entorhinal cortex in adapting to increased working memory load," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-12, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-60681-w
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-60681-w
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jin Li & Dan Cao & Shan Yu & Xinyu Xiao & Lukas Imbach & Lennart Stieglitz & Johannes Sarnthein & Tianzi Jiang, 2023. "Functional specialization and interaction in the amygdala-hippocampus circuit during working memory processing," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.
    2. D. Pacheco Estefan & M. Sánchez-Fibla & A. Duff & A. Principe & R. Rocamora & H. Zhang & N. Axmacher & P. F. M. J. Verschure, 2019. "Coordinated representational reinstatement in the human hippocampus and lateral temporal cortex during episodic memory retrieval," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-13, December.
    3. Edward K. Vogel & Maro G. Machizawa, 2004. "Neural activity predicts individual differences in visual working memory capacity," Nature, Nature, vol. 428(6984), pages 748-751, April.
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