Repeated Working Memory Training Improves Task Performance and Neural Efficiency in Multiple Sclerosis Patients and...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Psychology
• Rehabilitation Science

Background:

• Multiple Sclerosis (MS) often impacts cognitive functions, particularly working memory (WM).
• Understanding WM training effectiveness in MS patients is crucial for developing targeted interventions.
• Healthy controls (HC) provide a baseline for comparison in cognitive training studies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of a specific working memory (WM) training program.
• To compare the effects of WM training on MS patients and healthy controls (HC).
• To investigate the neural mechanisms underlying WM training-induced improvements using fMRI.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 29 MS patients and 29 matched HC were recruited.
• Participants were randomized into training and non-training groups.
• The training group underwent adaptive n-back WM training, with brain activity monitored via fMRI at baseline, post-training, and follow-up.

Main Results:

• Trained groups (MS patients and HC) showed significant improvements in reaction time and correct responses on 2-back and 3-back tasks.
• These performance gains correlated with reduced activation in the WM frontoparietal network.
• fMRI data indicated enhanced neural efficiency following WM training.

Conclusions:

• Working memory (WM) training effectively improves cognitive task performance in both MS patients and HC.
• Neuroplastic changes, characterized by enhanced neural efficiency, underpin these performance improvements.
• The findings suggest WM training is a viable strategy for cognitive rehabilitation in MS.