Cited by 715Cognitive Abilities and TestingNeural and Behavioral Psychology StudiesNeurobiology of Language and Bilingualism

Verbal Working Memory Load Affects Regional Brain Activation as Measured by PET

Jonides, John, Schumacher, Eric H., Smith, Edward E., Lauber, Erick J., Awh, Edward, Minoshima, Satoshi, Koeppe, Robert A.·1997·Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience

Abstract

We report an experiment that assesses the effect of variations in memory load on brain activations that mediate verbal working memory. The paradigm that forms the basis of this experiment is the "n-back" task in which subjects must decide for each letter in a series whether it matches the one presented n items back in the series. This task is of interest because it recruits processes involved in both the storage and manipulation of information in working memory. Variations in task difficulty were accomplished by varying the value of n. As n increased, subjects showed poorer behavioral performance as well as monotonically increasing magnitudes of brain activation in a large number of sites that together have been identified with verbal working-memory processes. By contrast, there was no reliable increase in activation in sites that are unrelated to working memory. These results validate the use of parametric manipulation of task variables in neuroimaging research, and they converge with the subtraction paradigm used most often in neuroimaging. In addition, the data support a model of working memory that includes both storage and executive processes that recruit a network of brain areas, all of which are involved in task performance.

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Crossref · 10.1162/jocn.1997.9.4.462

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Authors
Jonides, J., Schumacher, E. H., Smith, E. E., Lauber, E. J., Awh, E., Minoshima, S., & Koeppe, R. A.
Affiliations
  • University of Michigan (US)
  • University of Georgia (US)
Venue
Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience
Published
1997-07-01
Volume
9
Issue
4
Pages
462-475
ISSN
  • 0898-929X (ISSN-L)
  • 1530-8898
OpenAlex
W2147186992
Cited by
715
References
38
Citations by year
2026: 9 · 2025: 18 · 2024: 17 · 2023: 25 · 2022: 19 · 2021: 21 · 2020: 17 · 2019: 28 · 2018: 24 · 2017: 29 · 2016: 30 · 2015: 30 · 2014: 30 · 2013: 27 · 2012: 26
FWCI
35.64
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Abilities and Testing
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neurobiology of Language and Bilingualism
Keywords
verbal working memory, memory load, n-back task, regional brain activation, task difficulty, executive processes, working memory network

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