Sustained and transient gray matter volume changes after n-back training: A VBM study

Anna Miró-Padilla; Elisenda Bueichekú; Jesús Adrián-Ventura; Víctor Costumero; María-Ángeles Palomar-García; Esteban Villar-Rodríguez; Lidón Marin-Marin; Naiara Aguirre; César Ávila

doi:10.1016/j.nlm.2020.107368

Sustained and transient gray matter volume changes after n-back training: A VBM study

Neurobiol Learn Mem. 2021 Feb:178:107368. doi: 10.1016/j.nlm.2020.107368. Epub 2020 Dec 19.

Authors

Anna Miró-Padilla¹, Elisenda Bueichekú², Jesús Adrián-Ventura³, Víctor Costumero⁴, María-Ángeles Palomar-García⁵, Esteban Villar-Rodríguez⁶, Lidón Marin-Marin⁷, Naiara Aguirre⁸, César Ávila⁹

Affiliations

¹ Neuropsychology and Functional Neuroimaging Group, Department of Basic Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, Universitat Jaume I, Castelló de la Plana, Spain. Electronic address: amiro@uji.es.
² Neuropsychology and Functional Neuroimaging Group, Department of Basic Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, Universitat Jaume I, Castelló de la Plana, Spain. Electronic address: bueichek@uji.es.
³ Neuropsychology and Functional Neuroimaging Group, Department of Basic Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, Universitat Jaume I, Castelló de la Plana, Spain. Electronic address: jadrian@uji.es.
⁴ Center for Brain and Cognition, Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Spain. Electronic address: vcostume@uji.es.
⁵ Neuropsychology and Functional Neuroimaging Group, Department of Basic Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, Universitat Jaume I, Castelló de la Plana, Spain. Electronic address: mpalomar@uji.es.
⁶ Neuropsychology and Functional Neuroimaging Group, Department of Basic Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, Universitat Jaume I, Castelló de la Plana, Spain. Electronic address: esvillar@uji.es.
⁷ Neuropsychology and Functional Neuroimaging Group, Department of Basic Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, Universitat Jaume I, Castelló de la Plana, Spain. Electronic address: marinl@uji.es.
⁸ Neuropsychology and Functional Neuroimaging Group, Department of Basic Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, Universitat Jaume I, Castelló de la Plana, Spain. Electronic address: naguirre@uji.es.
⁹ Neuropsychology and Functional Neuroimaging Group, Department of Basic Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, Universitat Jaume I, Castelló de la Plana, Spain. Electronic address: avila@uji.es.

PMID: 33348048
DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2020.107368

Abstract

Working memory training causes functional adaptations in the brain, which include changes in activation and functional connectivity that remain stable over time. Few studies have investigated gray matter (GM) changes after working memory training, and they have produced heterogeneous results without clarifying the stable effects of training. The present study was designed to test for sustained and transient anatomic changes after only 200 min of working memory training. The voxel-based morphometry technique was used in order to investigate the GM changes produced by a brief single n-back training, immediately and 5 weeks after finishing it. The sample was composed by 59 human participants who underwent MRI scanning and were assigned to either a training group or a passive control group. Results showed sustained GM volume enlargement in the right superior parietal cortex and a transient GM decrease in the right putamen. The brain adaptation in the right superior parietal cortex was stronger in individuals who showed greater improvements in performance. The results provide further evidence that a brief working memory training is able to produce brain plasticity in structures related to the trained task.

Keywords: Brain plasticity; CAT12; Gray matter changes; N-back; Voxel-based morphometry; Working memory training.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Brain / diagnostic imaging*
Brain / physiology
Female
Gray Matter / diagnostic imaging*
Gray Matter / physiology
Humans
Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
Learning / physiology*
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Male
Memory, Short-Term / physiology*
Neuronal Plasticity / physiology*
Neuropsychological Tests
Organ Size / physiology
Young Adult