Project 1

了解记忆工作的神经基础改善WiVi功能 这项建议的目的是进行基础研究，以了解工作中的神经关联 记忆。第二个目的是将我们的发现应用于改善老年人的工作记忆功能 在健康老龄化和创伤性脑损伤患者中，通过新的神经刺激方案。首先，我们将 使用功能神经成像(FMRI)来检验两种相互矛盾的理论观点 工作记忆中的后顶叶皮质。了解顶后的作用是很重要的 适当地设计改善工作记忆的治疗性研究。因此，来自 第一批实验将指导应用实验的设计和预测结果 经颅直流电刺激适用于特殊人群。Tdcs被认为是改进的 通过几种机制发挥认知功能。Tdcs技术涉及到安全、低成本的应用。 头皮上的电流水平。电流进入大脑皮层，可以瞬间 增加或减少大脑皮层神经元放电的可能性，它也可能增加脑内神经元的活动 白质束克服白质损伤。我们预测阳极(+)tdcs应用于 前额叶和/或顶叶皮质通过以下方式改善视觉空间和语言工作记忆功能 增加健康衰老中皮质激活的活性不足。在对工作的纵向研究中 记忆，我们将应用顶叶、前额叶或交替的顶叶/前额叶负极TDC来分开分组 健康的老年个体。改进的持续时间将通过邀请参与者参加决赛来测试 在他们最后一次tdcs会议后一个月的行为会议。第二套应用实验将测试 Tdcs是否也能有效改善轻、中度患者的认知功能 创伤性脑损伤。在这些参与者中，经常会有脑白质损伤。我们将进行 交替刺激顶叶/前额叶tdcs是否会改善视觉空间或语言能力的实验 创伤性脑损伤患者的工作记忆。

Understanding the Neural Basis of Working IVIemory to Improve WIVI Function The purpose of this proposal is to conduct basic research to understand the neural correlates of working memory. The second purpose is to then apply our findings to improve working memory function in the healthy aging and in those with traumatic brain injury through novel neurostimulation protocols. First, we will use functional neuroimaging (fMRI) to test two contradictory theoretical viewpoints regarding the role of the posterior parietal cortex in working memory. It is important to understand the role of the posterior parietal cortex to appropriately design therapeutic studies for improving working memory. Thus, the results from the first experiments will guide the design and predicted outcomes ofthe applied experiments in which transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is applied to special populations. TDCS is thought to improve cognitive function through several mechanisms. The tDCS technique involves the application of a safe, low level of electrical current to the scalp. The electrical current passes into the cortex and can transiently increase or decrease the likelihood of neurononal firing in the cortex, and it may also increase the activity in white matter tracts to overcome white matter damage. We predict that anodal (+) tDCS applied to the prefrontal and/or parietal cortices, will improve visuospatial and verbal working memory function by increasing the underactivity of cortical activations in the healthy aging. In a longitudinal study of working memory, we will apply parietal, prefrontal or alternating parietal/prefrontal anodal tDCS to separate groups of healthy aging individuals. The duration of improvement will be tested by bringing participants in for a final behavioral session one month after their final tDCS session. The second set of applied experiments will test whether tDCS can also be used effectively to improve cognitive function in participants with mild or moderate traumatic brain injury. In these participants, there is is often white matter damage. We will conduct experiments to see if alternating parietal/prefrontal tDCS stimulation will improve visuospatial or verbal working memory in those with traumatic brain injury.