Linking cross-species hemodynamics with neuronal activity in prefrontal cortex during abstract sequence viewing

Distinct spiking dynamics are selectively present near fMRI peaks in macaque lateral prefrontal cortex during abstract sequence viewing, linking neuronal timing to hemodynamic activation.

• Why it matters: Mechanisms for abstract sequential pattern tracking are unclear, and prior evidence based on hemodynamics may not reliably reflect neuronal activity across species.
• What they did: The study combined human fMRI, monkey fMRI, and monkey electrophysiology to compare LPFC hemodynamic activation and to test whether neuronal responses align with fMRI-targeted regions.
• The result: Humans and non-human primates show functionally homologous LPFC hemodynamic activation, while neuronal activity carries sensory and abstract information in parallel without directly mirroring hemodynamics.