Putative role of PV and SOM interneuron subtypes in working memory

Working memory is an essential human trait required for all cognitive activities. Our previous model from Mongillo et al. (1), Mi et al. (2) uses synaptic facilitation to store traces of working memory. Thus memories can be maintained without persistent neural activity. A critical component of this model is a central inhibition which prevents multiple item representations from being active at the same time. We know from experimental studies that multiple genetically-defined interneuron subtypes (e.g. PV, SOM) with different excitability and connectivity properties mediate inhibition in the cortex. The role of these sub-types in working memory however is not known. Here we develop a modified model with these interneuron subtypes, and propose their functional roles in working memory. We make concrete testable predictions about the roles of these groups.