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Transcranial magnetic stimulation of left prefrontal cortex impairs working memory
1Department of Neurology, Section of Clinical Neurophysiology, University of California, Davis, 2315 Stockton Boulevard, Room 5308, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA.
Summary
Transiently disrupting the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) impairs working memory performance. The right DLPFC was not involved in this working memory task.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Neuropsychology
Background:
- The prefrontal cortex is implicated in working memory functions.
- The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) is a key region of interest.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the causal role of the DLPFC in working memory.
- To determine if transient disruption of the DLPFC affects performance on a sequential-letter working memory task.
Main Methods:
- Participants performed a 3-back sequential-letter task.
- Single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was used to transiently disrupt the DLPFC.
Main Results:
- TMS over the left DLPFC significantly increased errors in the working memory task.
- TMS over the right DLPFC did not affect working memory performance.
Conclusions:
- The left prefrontal cortex plays a critical role in specific types of working memory.
- These findings highlight the lateralization of prefrontal cortex function in working memory.