Could activity in anterior frontal regions predict performance on declarative memory tests?

Neuroreport. 2005 Mar 15;16(4):337-41. doi: 10.1097/00001756-200503150-00007.

Abstract

Few studies have tested the correlation between traditional declarative memory scores and functional brain imaging measures of memory. We examined the predictable capabilities of magnetoencephalography-derived measures, scanned during a high-load encoding-memory task, in the immediate (LM-1) and delayed (LM-2) recall from the Wechsler memory scale. The number of activity sources on the left frontal pole (between 300 and 600 ms) predicted scores in LM-1 and LM-2. Collapsing the activity in the left frontal pole and the orbitofrontal cortex increased the goodness of the solution for the LM-2 scores. The fact that rostral-frontal measures achieved significant values highlights the importance of executive processes, such as the implementation of memory strategies and top-down control mechanisms, in the performance of high-load memory tasks.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Female
  • Frontal Lobe / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Linear Models
  • Magnetoencephalography / methods
  • Male
  • Memory / physiology
  • Mental Recall / physiology*
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Psychomotor Performance / physiology*