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Neural mechanisms of two different verbal working memory tasks: A VLSM study
M V Ivanova1, O Dragoy2, S V Kuptsova3
1National Research University Higher School of Economics, Center for Language and Brain, 21/4 Staraya Basmannaya street, office 510, 105066 Moscow, Russian Federation; Center for Aphasia and Related Disorders, VA Northern California Health Care System, 150 Muir Road 126R, 94553 Martinez, CA, USA.
Neuropsychologia
|March 13, 2018
Summary
This study used lesion mapping to reveal that different brain regions are critical for distinct verbal working memory tasks. Findings highlight the need to consider task specificity in neuroscience research.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Psychology
- Neurology
Background:
- Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) suggests frontal-parietal networks support working memory (WM), but cannot identify essential brain regions.
- Previous research often uses varied verbal WM tasks interchangeably, potentially masking distinct neural substrates.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the neural substrate of verbal WM using voxel-based lesion symptom mapping (VLSM).
- To differentiate the critical brain regions for two distinct verbal WM tasks: complex listening span and a word 2-back task.
Main Methods:
- Voxel-based lesion symptom mapping (VLSM) was applied to 49 individuals with left hemisphere stroke-induced brain injuries.
- Participants completed two verbal WM tasks: complex listening span and a word 2-back task.
Main Results:
- VLSM identified distinct critical regions for each task, with no overlap.
- Lesions in the inferior frontal gyrus impaired complex span performance.
- Lesions in the superior and middle temporal gyri impaired 2-back task performance.
Conclusions:
- The complex span and 2-back tasks rely on different, non-overlapping brain regions, suggesting distinct cognitive mechanisms.
- Findings challenge the interchangeable use of these tasks in verbal WM research and emphasize the importance of lesion studies and task specificity.
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