Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 13, 2026
15:57
Brain Imaging Investigation of the Memory-Enhancing Effect of Emotion
Published on: May 4, 2011
Practice effects in the brain: Changes in cerebral activation after working memory practice depend on task demands.
Dietsje D Jolles1, Meike J Grol, Mark A Van Buchem
1Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition (LIBC), Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands. d.d.jolles@lumc.nl
Neuroimage
|April 20, 2010
Summary
Working memory practice enhances maintenance and manipulation skills, supported by distinct neural changes in default-mode regions and the striatum. These benefits persist for six months but do not transfer to other tasks.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Neuroimaging
- Human Brain Research
Background:
- Working memory (WM) training studies report varied neural changes due to differing task demands.
- Understanding practice-related neural modifications requires tasks with controlled, varying WM loads.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the specific neural effects of practicing working memory tasks with distinct demands (maintenance vs. manipulation).
- To differentiate practice-specific neural changes from general test-retest effects.
- To assess the long-term behavioral effects and specificity of WM practice.
Main Methods:
- Fifteen adults underwent 6 weeks of WM training involving information maintenance and manipulation under low and high loads.
- Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to capture neural activity before and after the training period.
- A control group was included to account for test-retest variability.
Main Results:
- Practice improved both WM maintenance and manipulation, with distinct neural correlates.
- Maintenance showed increased activation in default-mode regions; manipulation showed increased activation in the striatum.
- Observed changes in prefrontal cortex (VLPFC, DLPFC) and parietal cortex (SPC) were not always practice-specific, highlighting test-retest confounds.
Conclusions:
- Working memory practice induces specific neural adaptations in default-mode network and striatal regions for maintenance and manipulation, respectively.
- Careful control for test-retest effects is crucial in intervention and training studies.
- WM training yields lasting, task-specific skill improvements without broad transfer.
Related Concept Videos
01:24Working Memory
Working memory refers to a combination of components, including short-term memory and attention, that allow an individual to hold information temporarily as we perform cognitive tasks. It is an essential cognitive function that enables the execution of complex tasks such as problem-solving, comprehension, and reasoning. Unlike short-term memory, which simply involves the storage of information for a brief period, working memory involves the active manipulation and processing of this information.
01:14Role of Cerebellum and Prefrontal Cortex in Memory
The cerebellum, while traditionally associated with motor control, also plays a crucial role in memory, particularly in procedural memory, which involves learning motor tasks that become automatic through repetition. For example, studies have shown that when the cerebellum is damaged, individuals or animals lose the ability to learn conditioned motor responses, such as the conditioned eye-blink response in classical conditioning experiments with rabbits. This study demonstrates the cerebellum's...
01:30Information Processing Approach
The information-processing theory of cognitive development centers on fundamental mental processes, including attention, memory, and problem-solving skills. Researchers in this field examine how cognitive abilities, such as working memory, evolve and influence children's overall development. Studies indicate that children with stronger working memory tend to excel in reading comprehension, math, and problem-solving compared to peers with less efficient memory skills. Low working memory is also...