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Gray matter responsiveness to adaptive working memory training: a surface-based morphometry study

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Abstract

Here we analyze gray matter indices before and after completing a challenging adaptive cognitive training program based on the n-back task. The considered gray matter indices were cortical thickness (CT) and cortical surface area (CSA). Twenty-eight young women (age range 17–22 years) completed 24 training sessions over the course of 3 months (12 weeks, 24 sessions), showing expected performance improvements. CT and CSA values for the training group were compared with those of a matched control group. Statistical analyses were computed using a ROI framework defined by brain areas distinguished by their genetic underpinning. The interaction between group and time was analyzed. Middle temporal, ventral frontal, inferior parietal cortices, and pars opercularis were the regions where the training group showed conservation of gray matter with respect to the control group. These regions support working memory, resistance to interference, and inhibition. Furthermore, an interaction with baseline intelligence differences showed that the expected decreasing trend at the biological level for individuals showing relatively low intelligence levels at baseline was attenuated by the completed training.

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Notes

  1. Colom et al. (2013b) reported the behavioral results for this same sample.

  2. Analyses were also computed with repeated ANOVA 2 × 2 (Time × Group) and the results found were similar to those obtained after ANCOVA analyses.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by Grant PSI2010-20364 (Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, Spain). FJR is supported by BES-2011-043527 (Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, Spain). KM is supported by AP2008-00433 (Ministerio de Educación, Spain). MB was funded by the Spanish Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO-FPDI-2013-17528). Also, WSK was supported by Grants R01 AG022381, AG018386A, and AG018384 (U.S. National Institute on Aging).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049, Madrid, Spain

    Francisco J. Román, Kenia Martínez & Roberto Colom

  2. Montreal Neurological Institute (MNI), McGill University, Montreal, Canada

    Lindsay B. Lewis, Sherif Karama, Claude Lepage & Alan C. Evans

  3. University of California, San Diego, USA

    Chi-Hua Chen & William S. Kremen

  4. Universidad Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain

    Miguel Burgaleta

  5. Hospital Gregorio Marañon, Madrid, Spain

    Kenia Martínez

  6. University of California at Irvine, Irvine, USA

    Susanne M. Jaeggi

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  1. Francisco J. Román
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Correspondence to Roberto Colom.

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Román, F.J., Lewis, L.B., Chen, CH. et al. Gray matter responsiveness to adaptive working memory training: a surface-based morphometry study. Brain Struct Funct 221, 4369–4382 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00429-015-1168-7

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