Neural and Behavioral Effects of an Adaptive Online Verbal Working Memory Training in Healthy Middle-Aged Adults
Neural and Behavioral Effects of an Adaptive Online Verbal Working Memory Training in Healthy Middle-Aged Adults
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DOI：
10.3389/fnagi.2019.00300
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发表时间：
2019-11-01
影响因子：
4.8
通讯作者：
Koch, Kathrin
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Emch, Monica;Ripp, Isabelle;Koch, Kathrin
工作记忆（WM）训练的神经相关性仍然是一个有争议的问题，特别是在老年人中。我们使用功能性磁共振成像（fMRI）和n-back任务来测量健康中年人在接受8周的自适应在线言语WM训练后的大脑可塑性。参加者在其个人计算机上进行了32次培训。此外，我们评估了直接影响的培训，通过应用一个口头WM任务之前和之后的培训。参与者（平均年龄55.85 ± 4.24岁）被伪随机分配到实验组（n = 30）或活性对照组（n = 27）。训练导致已知参与言语WM的区域的活动减少（即，额-顶-小脑回路和皮层下区域），表明大脑在训练后可能变得更有效率。这些激活减少与扫描仪内的n-back任务的显着性能改善相关，反映了相当大的实践效果。此外，在额外的外部言语WM任务中存在与训练相关的直接效应（即，HAWIE-R数字跨度向前任务），并表明训练通常改善了该认知领域的表现。这些结果使我们得出结论，即使在老年，认知训练也可以提高WM容量，并提高特定区域或网络的神经效率。
Neural correlates of working memory (WM) training remain a matter of debate, especially in older adults. We used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) together with an n-back task to measure brain plasticity in healthy middle-aged adults following an 8-week adaptive online verbal WM training. Participants performed 32 sessions of this training on their personal computers. In addition, we assessed direct effects of the training by applying a verbal WM task before and after the training. Participants (mean age 55.85 +/- 4.24 years) were pseudo-randomly assigned to the experimental group (n = 30) or an active control group (n = 27). Training resulted in an activity decrease in regions known to be involved in verbal WM (i.e., fronto-parieto-cerebellar circuitry and subcortical regions), indicating that the brain became potentially more efficient after the training. These activation decreases were associated with a significant performance improvement in the n-back task inside the scanner reflecting considerable practice effects. In addition, there were training-associated direct effects in the additional, external verbal WM task (i.e., HAWIE-R digit span forward task), and indicating that the training generally improved performance in this cognitive domain. These results led us to conclude that even at advanced age cognitive training can improve WM capacity and increase neural efficiency in specific regions or networks.