The Different Brain Mechanisms of Object and Spatial Working Memory: Voxel-Based Morphometry and Resting-State
Zhiting Ren1,2, Yao Zhang1,2, Hong He1,2
1Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (SWU), Ministry of Education, Chongqing, China.
This study reveals how brain structure and connectivity support object and spatial working memory (WM). Object WM relies on ventral pathway regions, while spatial WM utilizes the dorsal pathway for cognitive tasks.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Psychology
- Neuroimaging
Background:
- Working memory (WM) is crucial for integrating and manipulating information during cognitive tasks.
- Understanding the neural underpinnings of object and spatial WM is key to comprehending human cognition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between individual differences in object and spatial working memory (WM) capacities.
- To examine correlations with regional gray matter density (GMD) and resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC).
Main Methods:
- Employed a combined voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) analysis.
- Correlated WM performance with GMD in specific brain regions.
- Assessed functional connectivity patterns associated with WM abilities.
Main Results:
- Object WM correlated positively with GMD in the right middle occipital gyrus (MOG) and left superior temporal gyrus (STG).
- Spatial WM showed a positive relationship with GMD in the right middle frontal gyrus (MFG) of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC).
- Object WM was linked to rsFC involving the intraparietal sulcus (IPS), postcentral gyrus (PostCG), precentral gyrus (PreCG), and supplementary motor area (SMA).
- Spatial WM was associated with rsFC between dlPFC, precuneus, MFG, superior frontal sulcus (SFS), and inferior parietal lobe (IPL).
Conclusions:
- Object WM capacity is associated with the structural and functional organization of the ventral visual pathway (occipital-temporal regions).
- Spatial WM capacity is linked to the dorsal pathway (frontal-parietal regions).
- These findings elucidate distinct neural pathways supporting different types of working memory.
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