Content or status: Frontal and posterior cortical representations of object category and upcoming task goals in working memory

To optimize task sequences, the brain must differentiate between current and prospective goals. We previously showed that currently prospectively relevant object representations in working memory can be dissociated within object-selective cortex. Based on other recent studies indicating a range of areas may involved distinguishing information memory, here we conducted multivoxel pattern analyses fMRI activity additional posterior (specifically early visual cortex intraparietal sulcus) as well frontal eye fields lateral prefrontal cortex). assessed whether these represent content, versus status or both. On each trial, participants memorized an drawn from three different categories. The was target for either first (currently relevant), second (prospectively neither (irrelevant). results revealed division labor across regions: While preferentially coded content (i.e., category), carried about relevance irrespective category. Intraparietal sulcus both strong category- status-sensitivity, consistent with its hub function combining stimulus priority signals. Furthermore, cross-decoding while were similar prior to search, they became dissimilar during areas. findings provide further evidence dissociation control networks memory.