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Papitto G, Friederici AD, Zaccarella E. Distinct neural mechanisms for action access and execution in the human brain: insights from an fMRI study. Cereb Cortex 2024; 34:bhae163. [PMID: 38629799 PMCID: PMC11022341 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhae163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Goal-directed actions are fundamental to human behavior, whereby inner goals are achieved through mapping action representations to motor outputs. The left premotor cortex (BA6) and the posterior portion of Broca's area (BA44) are two modulatory poles of the action system. However, how these regions support the representation-output mapping within the system is not yet understood. To address this, we conducted a finger-tapping functional magnetic resonance imaging experiment using action categories ranging from specific to general. Our study found distinct neural behaviors in BA44 and BA6 during action category processing and motor execution. During access of action categories, activity in a posterior portion of BA44 (pBA44) decreased linearly as action categories became less specific. Conversely, during motor execution, activity in BA6 increased linearly with less specific categories. These findings highlight the differential roles of pBA44 and BA6 in action processing. We suggest that pBA44 facilitates access to action categories by utilizing motor information from the behavioral context while the premotor cortex integrates motor information to execute the selected action. This finding enhances our understanding of the interplay between prefrontal cortical regions and premotor cortex in mapping action representation to motor execution and, more in general, of the cortical mechanisms underlying human behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgio Papitto
- Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Department of Neuropsychology, Stephanstraße 1a, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
- International Max Planck Research School on Neuroscience of Communication: Function, Structure, and Plasticity (IMPRS NeuroCom), Stephanstraße 1a, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Angela D Friederici
- Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Department of Neuropsychology, Stephanstraße 1a, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Emiliano Zaccarella
- Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Department of Neuropsychology, Stephanstraße 1a, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
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Llana T, Fernandez-Baizan C, Mendez-Lopez M, Fidalgo C, Mendez M. Functional near-infrared spectroscopy in the neuropsychological assessment of spatial memory: A systematic review. Acta Psychol (Amst) 2022; 224:103525. [PMID: 35123299 DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2022.103525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Revised: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is a non-invasive optical imaging technique that employs near-infrared light to measure cortical brain oxygenation. The use of fNIRS has increased exponentially in recent years. Spatial memory is defined as the ability to learn and use spatial information. This neuropsychological process is constantly used in our daily lives and can be measured by fNIRS but no research has reviewed whether this technique can be useful in the neuropsychological assessment of spatial memory. This study aimed to review empirical work on the use of fNIRS in the neuropsychological assessment of human spatial memory. We used four databases: PubMed, PsycINFO, Scopus and Web of Science, and a total of 18 articles were found to be eligible. Most of the articles assessed spatial or visuospatial working memory with a predominance in computer-based tasks, used fNIRS equipment of 16 channels and mainly measured the prefrontal cortex (PFC). The studies analysed found linear or quadratic relationships between working memory load and PFC activity, greater activation of PFC activity and worse behavioural results in healthy older people in comparison with healthy adults, and hyperactivation of PFC as a form of compensation in clinical samples. We conclude that fNIRS is compatible with the standard neuropsychological assessment of spatial memory, making it possible to complement behavioural results with data of cortical functional activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tania Llana
- Department of Psychology, University of Oviedo, Faculty of Psychology, Plaza Feijoo s/n, 33003 Oviedo, Asturias, Spain
| | - Cristina Fernandez-Baizan
- Department of Psychology, University of Oviedo, Faculty of Psychology, Plaza Feijoo s/n, 33003 Oviedo, Asturias, Spain; Neuroscience Institute of Principado de Asturias (INEUROPA), Faculty of Psychology, Plaza Feijoo s/n, 33003 Oviedo, Asturias, Spain.
| | - Magdalena Mendez-Lopez
- Department of Psychology and Sociology, University of Zaragoza, Pedro Cerbuna 12, 50009 Zaragoza, Aragón, Spain; IIS Aragón, San Juan Bosco, 13, 50009 Zaragoza, Aragón, Spain
| | - Camino Fidalgo
- Department of Psychology and Sociology, University of Zaragoza, Pedro Cerbuna 12, 50009 Zaragoza, Aragón, Spain; IIS Aragón, San Juan Bosco, 13, 50009 Zaragoza, Aragón, Spain
| | - Marta Mendez
- Department of Psychology, University of Oviedo, Faculty of Psychology, Plaza Feijoo s/n, 33003 Oviedo, Asturias, Spain; Neuroscience Institute of Principado de Asturias (INEUROPA), Faculty of Psychology, Plaza Feijoo s/n, 33003 Oviedo, Asturias, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias (ISPA), Av. del Hospital Universitario, s/n, 33011 Oviedo, Asturias, Spain
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Tagliabue CF, Mazza V. What Can Neural Activity Tell Us About Cognitive Resources in Aging? Front Psychol 2021; 12:753423. [PMID: 34733219 PMCID: PMC8558238 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.753423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
A reduction in cognitive resources has been originally proposed to account for age-related decrements in several cognitive domains. According to this view, aging limits the pool of available cognitive supplies: Compared to younger adults, elderly exhaust the resources more rapidly as task difficulty increases, hence a dramatic performance drop. Neurophysiological indexes (e.g., BOLD response and EEG activity) may be instrumental to quantify the amount of such cognitive resources in the brain and to pinpoint the stage of stimulus processing where the decrement in age-related resources is evident. However, as we discuss in this mini-review, the most recent studies on the neurophysiological markers of age-related changes lack a consistent coupling between neural and behavioral effects, which casts doubt on the advantage of measuring neural indexes to study resource deployment in aging. For instance, in the working memory (WM) domain, recent cross-sectional studies found varying patterns of concurrent age-related brain activity, ranging from equivalent to reduced and increased activations of old with respect to younger adults. In an attempt to reconcile these seemingly inconsistent findings of brain-behavior coupling, we focus on the contribution of confounding sources of variability and propose ways to control for them. Finally, we suggest an alternative perspective to explain age-related effects that implies a qualitative (instead of or along with a quantitative) difference in the deployment of cognitive resources in aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara F Tagliabue
- Center for Mind/Brain Sciences (CIMeC) - University of Trento, Rovereto, Italy
| | - Veronica Mazza
- Center for Mind/Brain Sciences (CIMeC) - University of Trento, Rovereto, Italy
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Hsieh S, Yang MH. Two-Year Follow-Up Study of the Relationship Between Brain Structure and Cognitive Control Function Across the Adult Lifespan. Front Aging Neurosci 2021; 13:655050. [PMID: 34140887 PMCID: PMC8205153 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2021.655050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Age-related decline in cognitive control and general slowing are prominent phenomena in aging research. These declines in cognitive functions have been shown to also involve age-related decline in brain structure. However, most evidence in support of these associations is based on cross-sectional data. Therefore, the aim of this study is to contrast cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses to re-examine if the relationship between age-related brain structure and cognitive function are similar between the two approaches. One hundred and two participants completed two sessions with an average interval of 2 years. All participants were assessed by questionnaires, a series of cognitive tasks, and they all underwent neuroimaging acquisition. The main results of this study show that the majority of the conclusions regarding age effect in cognitive control function and processing speed in the literature can be replicated based on the cross-sectional data. Conversely, when we followed up individuals over an average interval of 2 years, then we found much fewer significant relationships between age-related change in gray matter structure of the cognitive control network and age-related change in cognitive control function. Furthermore, there was no "initial age" effect in the relationships between age-related changes in brain structure and cognitive function. This finding suggests that the "aging" relationship between brain structure and cognitive function over a short period of time are independent of "initial age" difference at time point 1. The result of this study warrants the importance of longitudinal research for aging studies to elucidate actual aging processes on cognitive control function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shulan Hsieh
- Cognitive Electrophysiology Laboratory: Control, Aging, Sleep, and Emotion (CASE), Department of Psychology, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
- Institute of Allied Health Sciences, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
- Department of Public Health, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Meng-Heng Yang
- Cognitive Electrophysiology Laboratory: Control, Aging, Sleep, and Emotion (CASE), Department of Psychology, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
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Stavroulaki V, Giakoumaki SG, Sidiropoulou K. Working memory training effects across the lifespan: Evidence from human and experimental animal studies. Mech Ageing Dev 2020; 194:111415. [PMID: 33338498 DOI: 10.1016/j.mad.2020.111415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Revised: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Working memory refers to a cognitive function that provides temporary storage and manipulation of the information necessary for complex cognitive tasks. Due to its central role in general cognition, several studies have investigated the possibility that training on working memory tasks could improve not only working memory function but also increase other cognitive abilities or modulate other behaviors. This possibility is still highly controversial, with prior studies providing contradictory findings. The lack of systematic approaches and methodological shortcomings complicates this debate even more. This review highlights the impact of working memory training at different ages on humans. Finally, it demonstrates several findings about the neural substrate of training in both humans and experimental animals, including non-human primates and rodents.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Stella G Giakoumaki
- Laboratory of Neuropsychology, Department of Psychology, Gallos University Campus, University of Crete, Rethymno, 74100, Crete, Greece; University of Crete Research Center for the Humanities, The Social and Educational Sciences, University of Crete, Rethymno, 74100, Crete, Greece
| | - Kyriaki Sidiropoulou
- Dept of Biology, University of Crete, Greece; Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology - Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas, Greece.
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