[DSRP Evidence](https://dsrpevidence.org/)

# Two-dimensional neural geometry underpins hierarchical organization of sequence in human working memory

Fan et al., 2024, Nature Human Behaviour — Neuroscience

Patterns: [Systems](https://dsrpevidence.org/pattern/systems)

## In short

Working memory encodes a sequence by nesting items within chunks and chunks within the whole sequence, using orthogonal neural dimensions for item-within-chunk and chunk-within-sequence position.

## What they found (results)

Across three EEG/MEG experiments, memorized sequences were represented by a low-dimensional neural geometry with orthogonal axes for an item's rank within its chunk and the chunk's rank within the sequence; the nested geometry arose automatically (even without task pressure to chunk) and tracked behavior.

## What they set out to do (purpose)

To determine how the brain organizes ordered sequences in working memory beyond a flat, linear code.

These researchers were not testing DSRP. The finding is theirs; the correspondence to DSRP is drawn by this site.

[Source](https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-024-02047-8)