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Changes in task performance and frontal cortex activation within and over sessions during the n-back task.

Michael K Yeung1, Yvonne M Y Han2,3

  • 1Department of Psychology, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Tai Po, China. michaelyeung@eduhk.hk.

Scientific Reports
|February 28, 2023
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Summary

Working memory performance on the n-back task improves over time, showing consistent behavioral and neural activation patterns. However, load-dependent frontal brain activity, measured by functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), shows some variability across sessions.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cognitive Psychology
  • Brain Imaging

Background:

  • The n-back task is widely used to assess working memory capacity and cognitive load.
  • Understanding the temporal dynamics of brain activity during n-back performance is crucial but remains incompletely understood.
  • Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) offers a portable method for measuring cortical hemodynamics during cognitive tasks.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the within- and between-session stability and consistency of behavioral performance and frontal cortical activation during the n-back task.
  • To examine the temporal dynamics of working memory performance and associated neural changes over time.
  • To assess the reliability of fNIRS measures in capturing load-dependent brain activity during n-back performance.

Main Methods:

  • Forty healthy young adults completed 1-back and 3-back conditions multiple times within a session and across two sessions separated by approximately three weeks.
  • Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) was used to measure oxyhemoglobin (HbO) and deoxyhemoglobin (HbR) concentration changes in frontal cortical regions.
  • Behavioral data (accuracy, reaction time) and fNIRS signals were analyzed for performance improvements, consistency, and load-dependent changes.

Main Results:

  • Working memory performance, indicated by accuracy differences between 1-back and 3-back conditions, significantly improved over time within and between sessions.
  • Behavioral measures (accuracy, reaction time) demonstrated good to excellent consistency across sessions.
  • Frontal hemodynamic responses (HbO, HbR) were largely maintained over time, but load-dependent HbO changes, particularly in the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex, diminished across separate sessions.
  • Consistency of fNIRS measures varied, with fair-to-good consistency observed for 3-back dorsolateral and ventrolateral HbO changes.

Conclusions:

  • The study clarifies the temporal dynamics of task performance and frontal activation during the n-back task.
  • Findings reveal neural mechanisms underlying improvements in n-back task performance over time.
  • Results provide practical insights into the stability and consistency of fNIRS measures for future n-back research and highlight potential limitations in capturing sustained load-dependent activity across sessions.