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Assessing Working Memory in Children: The Comprehensive Assessment Battery for Children – Working Memory (CABC-WM)
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Assessing Working Memory in Children: The Comprehensive Assessment Battery for Children – Working Memory (CABC-WM)

Published on: June 12, 2017

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Anatomo-functional study of the cerebellum in working memory in children treated for medulloblastoma

Duc Ha Hoang1, Anne Pagnier2, Emilie Cousin3

  • 1Grenoble institute of neurosciences, Inserm U836, 38000 Grenoble, France; University Grenoble Alps, 38000 Grenoble, France; Department of radiology, Viettiep university hospital, Haiphong, Viet Nam.

Journal of Neuroradiology = Journal De Neuroradiologie
|February 8, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Children treated for medulloblastoma often develop working memory (WM) deficits. This study shows the left posterior cerebellum is critical for WM, with damage linked to deficits in these children.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Pediatric Oncology
  • Cognitive Psychology

Background:

  • Medulloblastoma is a common pediatric brain tumor originating in the posterior fossa.
  • Children treated for medulloblastoma frequently experience working memory deficits, impacting daily life and academic success.
  • Cerebellar involvement in these working memory deficits requires further elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of the cerebellum in working memory deficits in children treated for medulloblastoma.
  • To correlate cerebellar function and structure with working memory performance in pediatric patients.
  • To identify specific cerebellar regions involved in working memory processes.

Main Methods:

  • Neuropsychological assessment and structural/functional MRI were performed on 23 healthy children and 11 children treated for medulloblastoma.
  • Functional MRI utilized a block design with alternating sensory modalities and communication types.
  • Data analyzed using non-parametric tests for behavioral data and SPM8/SUIT for MRI data.

Main Results:

  • Patients with medulloblastoma exhibited significantly lower intelligence quotients and impaired central executive and visuospatial working memory.
  • Cerebellar resections in patients were predominantly in the left posterior lobe.
  • Functional MRI in healthy children revealed left posterior cerebellar lobe activation during non-verbal and visuospatial working memory tasks.

Conclusions:

  • The left posterior cerebellar lobe is crucial for working memory function.
  • Lesions in the left posterior cerebellum are associated with working memory impairments in pediatric medulloblastoma survivors.
  • Findings support the role of the left posterior cerebellum in working memory, aiding treatment and rehabilitation strategies.
Abstract

Keywords:
CerebellumChildrenFunctional MRIMedulloblastomaWorking memory

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