Unveiling the abstract format of mnemonic representations

Working memory (WM) enables information storage for future use, bridging the gap between perception and behavior. We hypothesize that WM representations are abstractions of low-level perceptual features. However, the neural nature of these putative abstract representations has thus far remained impenetrable. Here, we demonstrate that distinct visual stimuli (oriented gratings and moving dots) are flexibly recoded into the same WM format in visual and parietal cortices when that representation is useful for memory-guided behavior. Specifically, the behaviorally relevant features of the stimuli (orientation and direction) were extracted and recoded into a shared mnemonic format that takes the form of an abstract line-like pattern. We conclude that mnemonic representations are abstractions of percepts that are more efficient than and proximal to the behaviors they guide. •We revealed the neural nature of abstract WM representations•Distinct visual stimuli were recoded into a shared abstract memory format•Memory formats for orientation and motion direction were recoded into a line-like pattern•Such formats are more efficient and proximal to the behaviors they guide Kwak and Curtis demonstrate that the memory formats measured with fMRI for two different visual features, orientation and motion direction, are shared in an abstract line-like format. These results demonstrate that the goal-relevant details of past percepts are recoded into abstract working memory representations in the brain.