Neural activity in the caudate nucleus of monkeys during spatial sequencing

Abstract

Single cell activity was recorded from the monkey caudate nucleus. The animal had to execute motor and oculomotor sequences based on memorised information. In each trial, the monkey had to remember the order of illumination of three fixed spatial targets. After a delay, the animal had to press the targets in the same sequence. The “task-related” cells were activated by onset of the targets and on execution of saccades or arm movements. In a majority of cells, activation did not depend only on the retinal position of the stimuli or on the spatial parameters of gaze and arm movements, but was contingent on the particular sequence in which the targets were illuminated or the movements were performed.