Cited by 91Advanced Neuroimaging Techniques and ApplicationsCognitive Abilities and TestingFunctional Brain Connectivity Studies

Dynamics of the human structural connectome underlying working memory training

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Caeyenberghs, Karen, Metzler-Baddeley, Claudia, Foley, Sonya, Jones, Derek K.·2016·The Journal of Neuroscience

Abstract

Brain region-specific changes have been demonstrated with a variety of cognitive training interventions. The effect of cognitive training on brain subnetworks in humans, however, remains largely unknown, with studies limited to functional networks. Here, we used a well-established working memory training program and state-of-the art neuroimaging methods in 40 healthy adults (21 females, mean age 26.5 years). Near and far-transfer training effects were assessed using computerized working memory and executive function tasks. Adaptive working memory training led to improvement on (non)trained working memory tasks and generalization to tasks of reasoning and inhibition. Graph theoretical analysis of the structural (white matter) network connectivity ("connectome") revealed increased global integration within a frontoparietal attention network following adaptive working memory training compared with the nonadaptive group. Furthermore, the impact on the outcome of graph theoretical analyses of different white matter metrics to infer "connection strength" was evaluated. Increased efficiency of the frontoparietal network was best captured when using connection strengths derived from MR metrics that are thought to be more sensitive to differences in myelination (putatively indexed by the [quantitative] longitudinal relaxation rate, R1) than previously used diffusion MRI metrics (fractional anisotropy or fiber-tracking recovered streamlines). Our findings emphasize the critical role of specific microstructural markers in providing important hints toward the mechanisms underpinning training-induced plasticity that may drive working memory improvement in clinical populations. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: This is the first study to explore training-induced changes in the structural connectome using a well-controlled design to examine cognitive training with up-to-date neuroimaging methods. We found changes in global integration based on white matter connectivity within a frontoparietal attention network following adaptive working memory training compared with a nonadaptive comparison group. Furthermore, the impact of different diffusion MR metrics and more specific markers of white matter on the graph theoretical findings was evaluated. An increase in network global efficiency following working memory training was best captured when connection strengths were weighted by MR relaxation rates (influenced by myelination). These results are important for the optimization of cognitive training programs for healthy individuals and people with brain disease.

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  • Two months of working memory training can cause dMRI changes in healthy young adults, including within the left parahippocampal cingulum.

    “It has, for example, been shown that two months of working memory training can cause dMRI changes in healthy young adults, including within the left parahippocampal cingulum (Caeyenberghs et al., 2016; Metzler-Baddeley et al., 2017).”

    From The cingulum bundle: Anatomy, function, and dysfunction (2018) · cites this paper as Caeyenberghs et al., 2016

    The Participants and Abstract sections describe eight weeks of working-memory training in healthy adults (mean age 26.5 years), and the Results report training-related structural-network changes. But the Results describe diffusion-derived network effects as only marginally significant, while the significant global-efficiency effect used an MR relaxation metric. The regional analyses identify the right anterior cingulate and right inferior ventrolateral prefrontal cortex, not the left parahippocampal cingulum; page numbers are unavailable in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.88)

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  • Enhancements in cognitive performance following training are mirrored by changes in neural activity and connectivity of the brain networks serving working memory.

    “Enhancements in cognitive performance following training are mirrored by changes in the neural activity and connectivity of the brain networks serving WM (Astle et al., 2015; Barnes et al., 2016; Caeyenberghs et al., 2016; Constantinidis & Klingberg, 2016; Dahlin, Neely, Larsson, Backman, & Nyberg, 2008; Kundu, Sutterer, Emrich, & Postle, 2013; Olesen, Westerberg, & Klingberg, 2004; Takeuchi & Kaw”

    From Working memory training involves learning new skills (2019) · cites this paper as Caeyenberghs et al., 2016

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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. Hurley S, Mossahebi P, Samsonov A, Alexander A, Deoni S, Fisher R, Duncan I, Field A (2010) Multicomponent relaxometry (mcDESPOT) in the shaking pup model of dysmyelination. In: Proceedings of the 18th Meet- ing of the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine, p 4516, Stockholm.

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Authors
Caeyenberghs, K., Metzler-Baddeley, C., Foley, S., & Jones, D. K.
Affiliations
  • Australian Catholic University (AU)
  • Cardiff University (GB)
Venue
The Journal of Neuroscience
Published
2016-04-06
Volume
36
Issue
14
Pages
4056-4066
ISSN
  • 0270-6474 (ISSN-L)
  • 1529-2401
OpenAlex
W2266839507
Cited by
91
References
88
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 4
FWCI
10.12
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Neuroscience (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • ORCA Online Research @Cardiff (Cardiff University) (submittedVersion)
  • Research Bank (Australian Catholic University) (submittedVersion)
  • Own your potential (DEAKIN) (submittedVersion)
  • Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
  • Wellcome Trust (096646/Z/11/Z)
  • Vlaamse regering
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging › Advanced Neuroimaging Techniques and Applications
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Abilities and Testing
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Functional Brain Connectivity Studies
Keywords
working memory training, structural connectome, white matter connectivity, frontoparietal attention network, network efficiency, myelination, R1 relaxation rate, training-induced plasticity, transfer of training, executive function, graph theory
MeSH terms
Adult, Algorithms, Brain Mapping, Cognition, Female, Humans, Learning, Male, Memory, Short-Term, Mental Processes, Myelin Sheath, Nerve Net, Neuronal Plasticity, Psychomotor Performance, Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Young Adult, Executive Function, Neuroimaging, Connectome, Gray Matter

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