Journal
SCANDINAVIAN JOURNAL OF PSYCHOLOGY
Volume 50, Issue 1, Pages 41-46Publisher
WILEY
DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-9450.2008.00678.x
Keywords
fMRI; working memory load; capacity-constraints
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Funding
- Swedish Research Council
- Nordic Research Councils for the Humanities and the Social Sciences (NOS-HS)
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Nyberg, L., Dahlin, E., Stigsdotter Neely, A. & BAckman, L. (2008). Neural correlates of variable working memory load across adult age and skill: Dissociative patterns within the fronto-parietal network. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 50, 41-46. We examined neural changes related to variations in working memory load by using an n-back task with three levels and functional magnetic resonance imaging. Younger adults were divided into high- and low-performing groups (Young-High; Young-Low) and compared with older adults. Relative to Young-High, capacity-constraints in working memory were apparent between load 1-2 for the elderly and between load 2-3 for Young-Low. Capacity-constraints in neural activity followed this pattern by showing a monotonically increasing response in parietal cortex and thalamus for Young-High, whereas activity leveled off at 1-back for the elderly and at 2-back for Young-Low. The response in dorsal frontal cortex followed a similar pattern with the addition that the magnitude of activation differed within capacity limitations (Old > Young at 1-back; Young-Low > Young-High at 2-back). These findings indicate that an important determinant of WM capacity is the ability to keep the frontal cortex adequately engaged in relation to current task demands.
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