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Neural correlates of working memory performance in primary insomnia
Sean P A Drummond1, Matthew Walker, Erin Almklov
1Psychology Service, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA 92161, USA. drummond@ucsd.edu
Sleep
|September 3, 2013
Summary
Patients with primary insomnia (PIs) exhibit altered brain activity during working memory tasks, despite intact cognitive performance. This study reveals reduced engagement of task-related brain regions and impaired modulation of default mode networks in PIs compared to good sleepers (GSs).
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Sleep Medicine
- Cognitive Psychology
Background:
- Primary insomnia (PI) is characterized by subjective cognitive complaints, yet objective cognitive deficits are rarely found.
- Understanding the neural underpinnings of cognitive function in PI is crucial for explaining this discrepancy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the neural correlates of working memory performance in individuals with primary insomnia (PIs) compared to good sleepers (GSs).
Main Methods:
- Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to assess brain activity in 25 PIs and 25 GSs during an N-back working memory task.
- Participants were recruited from a VA hospital sleep laboratory and a university-based functional imaging center.
Main Results:
- While PIs and GSs demonstrated comparable cognitive performance on the working memory task, PIs showed significant differences in sleep measures.
- PIs exhibited reduced activation in task-related working memory regions, including the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, with increasing task difficulty.
- PIs also displayed reduced modulation of default mode network regions during the task compared to GSs.
Conclusions:
- Primary insomnia is associated with abnormal neural function during working memory tasks, characterized by decreased engagement of task-appropriate brain areas.
- Individuals with PI struggle to modulate task-irrelevant brain networks, contributing to the disconnect between subjective cognitive complaints and objective performance.
- These findings offer insights into the neuropathophysiology of primary insomnia and the cognitive challenges experienced by patients.
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