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The role of parietal cortex in verbal working memory
J Jonides1, E H Schumacher, E E Smith
1Department of Psychology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109-1109, USA.
Summary
The parietal cortex is involved in verbal working memory (VWM) storage and retrieval, particularly for phonologically coded information. This neuroimaging study clarifies its role in VWM networks.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Neuroimaging
Background:
- Parietal cortex involvement in verbal working memory (VWM) is debated.
- Previous studies often combined storage with encoding/retrieval, confounding results.
Purpose of the Study:
- To clarify the precise role of parietal cortex in VWM.
- To investigate VWM storage, encoding, and retrieval using positron emission tomography (PET).
Main Methods:
- Two behavioral studies and a PET study were conducted.
- PET scans isolated VWM encoding, retrieval, and storage/rehearsal processes.
- Used verbal material likely requiring phonological codes.
Main Results:
- Retrieval activated dorsolateral prefrontal, anterior cingulate, posterior parietal, and extrastriate cortices.
- Storage activated dorsolateral prefrontal, inferior frontal, premotor, posterior parietal cortices, and cerebellum.
- Encoding showed no reliable activations.
Conclusions:
- Parietal regions are part of a network for phonologically coded verbal working memory.
- These regions contribute to both storage and retrieval in VWM.
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