Cited by 21Cognitive Abilities and TestingNeural and Behavioral Psychology StudiesCognitive Functions and Memory

Neural correlates of working memory training: An fMRI meta-analysis

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Zhang, Yao, Fu, Junjun, Zhao, Xin·2024·NeuroImage

Abstract

Working memory (WM) can be improved by cognitive training. Numerous studies examined neural mechanisms underlying WM training, although with differing conclusions. Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis to examine the neural substrates underlying WM training in healthy adults. Findings from global analyses showed substantial neural changes in the frontoparietal and subcortical regions. Results from training dosage analyses of WM training showed that shorter WM training could produce neural changes in the frontoparietal regions, whereas longer WM training could produce changes in the subcortical regions (striatum, anterior cingulate cortex, and insula). WM training-induced neural changes were also moderated by the type of training task, with updating tasks inducing neural changes in more regions than maintenance tasks. Overall, these results indicate that the neural changes associated with WM training occur in the frontoparietal network and dopamine-related brain areas, extending previous meta-analyses on WM training and advancing our understanding of the neural underpinnings of WM training effects.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2024.120885

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148 of 148 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • Working memory is a core component of human cognition, enabling short-term maintenance and online manipulation of information while supporting higher-order processes including attentional regulation, executive control, and reasoning.

    “Working memory is a core component of human cognition, enabling the short-term maintenance and online manipulation of information while supporting higher-order processes including attentional regulation, executive control, and reasoning7–9.”
  • Existing behavioural and neuroimaging syntheses are constrained by inadequate modelling of within-study dependent effect sizes and absence of an effect-size framework that can jointly integrate activation increases and decreases.

    “Nevertheless, existing behavioural and neuroimaging syntheses remain constrained by key methodological limitations, including inadequate modelling of within-study dependent effect sizes and the absence of an effect-size framework that can jointly integrate activation increases and decreases7,8,20.”

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Authors
Zhang, Y., Fu, J., & Zhao, X.
Affiliations
Northwest Normal University (CN)
Corresponding author
Zhao, Xin
Venue
NeuroImage
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2024-11
Volume
301
Pages
120885
ISSN
1053-8119 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W4403285152
Cited by
20
References
148
Citations by year
2026: 12 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 1
FWCI
1.47
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • NeuroImage (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
  • Humanities and Social Science Fund of Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China (21XJA190005)
  • Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China Humanities and Social Sciences Youth Foundation (23YJC90007)
  • Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China
  • National Natural Science Foundation of China (32260207)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Abilities and Testing
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Functions and Memory
Keywords
working memory training, cognitive training, neural correlates, training dose, frontoparietal network, subcortical structures, striatum, anterior cingulate cortex, insula, dopamine, working memory updating, working memory maintenance
MeSH terms
Cognitive Training, Adult, Brain, Brain Mapping, Humans, Learning, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Memory, Short-Term

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