Brain Basis of the Development of Human Working Memory

描述（由申请人提供）：本提案的目的是研究7-12岁儿童工作记忆（WM）发展的神经相关。我们将使用功能磁共振成像来识别参与VVM中语言和空间信息维护的大脑区域，并参数化地操纵信息的数量（负载）。然后，我们将比较儿童和年轻人（18-30岁）的激活情况，并使用负载操作来解决与年龄相关的表现差异问题。我们最初的假设是，与成年人相比，儿童在WM中维持言语和空间信息的侧化激活更少。此外，我们将研究fMRI信号（BOLD信号）的血流动力学基础中年龄相关差异的关系，并利用该信息单独定制血管反应措施。最后，将考虑与扩散张量成像（DTI）测量的白质微观结构完整性相关的功能发展。我们将研究儿童WM能力的区域特异性DTI相关因素。fMRI、DTI和BOLD测量应该能提供关于儿童和成人脑损伤中信息维持的差异的信息。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The goal of this proposal is to examine the neural correlates of the development of working memory (WM) in children ages 7-12. We will use fMRI to identify brain regions involved in the maintenance of verbal and spatial information in VVM, and parametrically manipulate the amount (load) of information. We will then compare activations found in the children and in young adults (ages 18-30), and use the load manipulation to address issues of age-associated differences in performance. Our initial hypothesis is that children will have less lateralized activations for maintenance of both verbal and spatial information in WM than will adults. Further, we will examine the relation of age-related differences in the hemodynamic basis of the fMRI signal (BOLD signal), and use that information to individually tailor vascular response measures. Finally, functional development will be considered in relation to the integrity of white matter microstructure measured by diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). We will examine regionally specific DTI correlates of WM capacities in children. The fMRI, DTI, and BOLD measures ought to be informative about how the maintenance of information in WM differs between children and adults.