scholarly journals What is the functional role of delay-related alpha oscillations during working memory?

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael J. Wolff ◽  
Elkan G. Akyurek ◽  
Mark G. Stokes
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Secondary Analysis ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
External Perturbation ◽  
Oscillatory Activity ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Storage Mechanism ◽  
Eeg Data ◽  
Term Storage

“Activity-silent” working memory (WM) has been proposed as an energy-efficient short-term storage mechanism that does not require persistent spiking. Previously we developed a novel experimental approach to test its key predictions and showed that an external perturbation results in a subtle but reliable readout of the information in WM, even for unattended memories that otherwise do not exhibit persistent neural activity during maintenance. More recently, there has been intense interest in what differentiates attended and unattended items in WM, with diverse suggestions ranging from storage in different brain areas, reversed neural codes or that both are stored in low-frequency oscillatory activity. Here we specifically consider this latter suggestions, as proposed by Barbosa et al. based on their secondary analysis of our freely available EEG data. We are pleased that our previously published data have contributed to new and potentially important findings, but we also note that this oscillatory correlate raises further questions, and does not necessarily disqualify activity-silent models of WM.

scholarly journals Does suicidal desire moderate the association between frontal delta power and psychological pain?

PeerJ ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. e1538 ◽  
Author(s):  
Esther L. Meerwijk ◽  
Sandra J. Weiss
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Secondary Analysis ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Psychological Pain ◽  
Delta Power ◽  
Eeg Data ◽  
History Of ◽  
Two Measures ◽  
Current Psychological ◽  
The Relationship

Psychological pain frequently underlies thoughts of suicide. We investigated if recent suicidal desire moderated the association between potential neurophysiological markers and psychological pain assessed on the Psychache Scale (PS) and the Orbach & Mikulincer Mental Pain Questionnaire (OMMP). The OMMP specifically assesses current psychological pain that may more readily capture emotions present during recent suicidal desire. In contrast, the PS leaves the timeframe undefined. A secondary analysis was conducted of resting-state EEG data and heart rate obtained in adults with a history of depression. In simultaneous multiple regression models, while controlling for depressive symptoms, recent suicidal desire moderated associations with right-frontal EEG delta power (ΔR2= .07,p< .01) and low-frequency heart rate variability (nonsignificantly) for pain assessed on the PS. No indication for moderation was found for pain on the OMMP. The relationship between the two measures of psychological pain was stronger for individuals with recent suicidal desire (r= .75,p< .01 vs.r= .50,p< .05). The findings suggest that, unless a respondent’s psychological pain is recent and substantial, the PS may not capture the intensity of current psychological pain as effectively as the OMMP.

scholarly journals Fatigue-Related Effects in the Process of Task Interruption on Working Memory

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yueyuan Chen ◽  
Weining Fang ◽  
Beiyuan Guo ◽  
Haifeng Bao
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Cognitive Activity ◽  
Neural Mechanism ◽  
P300 Amplitude ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Eeg Data ◽  
Task Interruption ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Electrophysiological Effects

Interruption generally has a negative effect on performance by affecting working memory (WM). However, the neural mechanism of interruption has yet to be understood clearly, and previous studies have largely ignored the role of fatigue state. To address these issues, the present study explores the behavioral and electrophysiological effects of interruption on WM performance using electroencephalography (EEG) data. The moderating effect of fatigue is also explored. The participants performed spatial 2-back tasks with math task interruption, suspension interruption, and non-interruption under different fatigue states. The results show that interruption led to increased alpha activity and P300 amplitude, indicating inhibitory control to interference from irrelevant information. Analysis of P200 amplitude revealed that interruption affected attentional reallocation when resuming the primary task. Increased theta power indicated an increased demand for information maintenance during the interruption. A speeding-up effect was discovered after interruption; however, fatigue impaired cognitive ability and further exacerbated the negative effects of interruption on WM and behavioral performance. These findings contribute to a better understanding of cognitive activity during the interruption and of the interaction with fatigue, and provide further support for the theory of memory for goals (MFG).

The role of inhibition for working memory processes: ERP evidence from a short-term storage task

2017 ◽  
Vol 55 (5) ◽  
pp. e13026 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephan Getzmann ◽  
Edmund Wascher ◽  
Daniel Schneider
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Memory Processes ◽  
Short Term Storage ◽  
Term Storage

scholarly journals Working Memory in Writing: Empirical Evidence From the Dual-Task Technique

2004 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 32-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thierry Olive
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Resource Allocation ◽  
Dual Task ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Writing Processes ◽  
Short Term Storage ◽  
Dual Task Paradigm ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Term Storage

The dual-task paradigm recently played a major role in understanding the role of working memory in writing. By reviewing recent findings in this field of research, this article highlights how the use of the dual-task technique allowed studying the processing and short-term storage functions of working memory involved in writing. With respect to processing functions of working memory (namely, attentional and executive functions), studies investigated resource allocation, step-by-step management, and parallel coordination of the writing processes. With respect to short-term storage in working memory, experiments mainly attempted to test Kellogg's (1996) proposals on the relationship between the writing processes and the slave systems of working memory. The dual-task technique proved fruitful in understanding the relationship between writing and working memory because researchers exploited its major advantage, namely, its flexibility.

scholarly journals Low-frequency direct cortical stimulation of left superior frontal gyrus enhances working memory performance

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sankaraleengam Alagapan ◽  
Caroline Lustenberger ◽  
Eldad Hadar ◽  
Hae Won Shin ◽  
Flavio Fröhlich
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Memory Performance ◽  
Reaction Times ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Cortical Stimulation ◽  
Superior Frontal Gyrus ◽  
Frequency Bands ◽  
Direct Cortical Stimulation ◽  
Cortical Oscillations

AbstractThe neural substrates of working memory are spread across prefrontal, parietal and cingulate cortices and are thought to be coordinated through low frequency cortical oscillations in the theta (3 – 8 Hz) and alpha (8 – 12 Hz) frequency bands. While the functional role of many subregions have been elucidated using neuroimaging studies, the role of superior frontal gyrus (SFG) is not yet clear. Here, we combined electrocorticography and direct cortical stimulation in three patients implanted with subdural electrodes to assess if superior frontal gyrus is indeed involved in working memory. We found left SFG exhibited task-related modulation of oscillations in the theta and alpha frequency bands specifically during the encoding epoch. Stimulation at the frequency matched to the endogenous oscillations resulted in reduced reaction times in all three participants. Our results support the causal role of SFG in working memory and suggest that SFG may coordinate working memory through low-frequency oscillations thus bolstering the feasibility of targeting oscillations for restoring cognitive function.

Working memory and general intelligence: The role of short-term storage

2005 ◽  
Vol 39 (5) ◽  
pp. 1005-1014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberto Colom ◽  
Carmen Flores-Mendoza ◽  
Ma Ángeles Quiroga ◽  
Jesús Privado
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
General Intelligence ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Short Term Storage ◽  
Term Storage

scholarly journals Oscillatory correlates of auditory working memory examined with human electrocorticography

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sukhbinder Kumar ◽  
Phillip E. Gander ◽  
Joel I. Berger ◽  
Alexander J. Billig ◽  
Kirill V. Nourski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Auditory Cortex ◽  
Frontal Cortex ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Delay Period ◽  
Blood Oxygenation ◽  
Oscillatory Activity ◽  
Frequency Bands ◽  
Inferior Frontal Cortex

AbstractThis work examines how sounds are held in auditory working memory (AWM) in humans by examining oscillatory local field potentials (LFPs) in candidate brain regions. Previous fMRI studies by our group demonstrated blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) response increases during maintenance in auditory cortex, inferior frontal cortex and the hippocampus using a paradigm with a delay period greater than 10s. The relationship between such BOLD changes and ensemble activity in different frequency bands is complex, and the long delay period raised the possibility that long-term memory mechanisms were engaged. Here we assessed LFPs in different frequency bands in six subjects with recordings from all candidate brain regions using a paradigm with a short delay period of 3 s. Sustained delay activity was demonstrated in all areas, with different patterns in the different areas. Enhancement in low frequency (delta) power and suppression across higher frequencies (beta/gamma) were demonstrated in primary auditory cortex in medial Heschl’s gyrus (HG) whilst non-primary cortex showed patterns of enhancement and suppression that altered at different levels of the auditory hierarchy from lateral HG to superior- and middle-temporal gyrus. Inferior frontal cortex showed increasing suppression with increasing frequency. The hippocampus and parahippocampal gyrus showed low frequency increases and high frequency decreases in oscillatory activity. The work demonstrates sustained activity patterns that can only be explained by AWM maintenance, with prominent low-frequency increases in medial temporal lobe regions.

Working Memory and Number Sense as Predictors of Mathematical (Dis-)Ability

2015 ◽  
Vol 223 (2) ◽  
pp. 102-109 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evelyn H. Kroesbergen ◽  
Marloes van Dijk
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Learning Disabilities ◽  
Spatial Working Memory ◽  
Number Sense ◽  
Mathematical Learning ◽  
Visual Spatial ◽  
Mathematical Learning Disabilities ◽  
Visual Spatial Working Memory ◽  
And Mathematics

Recent research has pointed to two possible causes of mathematical (dis-)ability: working memory and number sense, although only few studies have compared the relations between working memory and mathematics and between number sense and mathematics. In this study, both constructs were studied in relation to mathematics in general, and to mathematical learning disabilities (MLD) in particular. The sample consisted of 154 children aged between 6 and 10 years, including 26 children with MLD. Children performing low on either number sense or visual-spatial working memory scored lower on math tests than children without such a weakness. Children with a double weakness scored the lowest. These results confirm the important role of both visual-spatial working memory and number sense in mathematical development.

Working Memory Capacity and a Notorious Brain Teaser

2006 ◽  
Vol 53 (2) ◽  
pp. 123-131 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wim De Neys ◽  
Niki Verschueren
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Secondary Task ◽  
Working Memory Capacity ◽  
Memory Capacity ◽  
Task Load ◽  
Normative Reasoning ◽  
Monty Hall Dilemma ◽  
Monty Hall ◽  
Memory Resources

Abstract. The Monty Hall Dilemma (MHD) is an intriguing example of the discrepancy between people’s intuitions and normative reasoning. This study examines whether the notorious difficulty of the MHD is associated with limitations in working memory resources. Experiment 1 and 2 examined the link between MHD reasoning and working memory capacity. Experiment 3 tested the role of working memory experimentally by burdening the executive resources with a secondary task. Results showed that participants who solved the MHD correctly had a significantly higher working memory capacity than erroneous responders. Correct responding also decreased under secondary task load. Findings indicate that working memory capacity plays a key role in overcoming salient intuitions and selecting the correct switching response during MHD reasoning.

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