Effects of computerized working memory training on neuroplasticity in healthy individuals: A combined neuroimaging and neurotransmitter study

• Published in: NeuroImage (Orlando, Fla.) Vol. 298; p. 120785
• Main Authors: Fang, Peng, Gao, Yuntao, Li, Yijun, Li, Chenxi, Zhang, Tian, Wu, Lin, Zhu, Yuanqiang, Xie, Yuanjun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.09.2024; Elsevier Limited; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; ALFF; Brain - diagnostic imaging; Brain - physiology; Cognitive ability; Cognitive Training; Computerized working memory training; Cortex (cingulate); Cortex (frontal); Cortex (parietal); Dopamine; Female; Frontal gyrus; Glutamate receptors; Healthy individuals; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Medical imaging; Memory; Memory, Short-Term - physiology; Morphometry; N-Methyl-D-aspartic acid; Nervous system; Neural plasticity; Neuroimaging; Neuroimaging - methods; Neuronal Plasticity - physiology; Neuroplasticity; Neurotransmitter; Neurotransmitter Agents - metabolism; Neurotransmitters; Occipital lobe; Operculum; Postcentral gyrus; Precentral gyrus; Serotonin; Spatial distribution; Substantia grisea; Superior parietal lobule; VBM; Young Adult; Young adults; VBM; Neuroplasticity; Neurotransmitter; Healthy individuals; Computerized working memory training; ALFF
• ISSN: 1053-8119; 1095-9572; 1095-9572
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2024.120785

•Following an 8-week computerized working memory training, participants exhibited a notable alternation in the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF) in the fronto-occipital regions.•An increase in gray matter volume (GMV) was observed in the right dorsal superior frontal gyrus of the training group post-training.•Significant correlations was found between neuroimaging measures (ALFF and VBM) and the spatial patterns of neurotransmitters such as serotonin (5-HT), dopamine (DA), and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA). Working memory (WM) is an essential cognitive function that underpins various higher-order cognitive processes. Improving WM capacity through targeted training interventions has emergered as a potential approach for enhancing cognitive abilities. The present study employed an 8-week regimen of computerized WM training (WMT) to investigate its effect on neuroplasticity in healthy individuals, utilizing neuroimaging data gathered both before and after the training. The key metrics assessed included the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF), voxel-based morphometry (VBM), and the spatial distribution correlations of neurotransmitter. The results indicated that post-training, compared to baseline, there was a reduction in ALFF in the medial superior frontal gyrus and an elevation in ALFF in the left middle occipital gyrus within the training group. In comparison to the control group, the training group also exhibited decreased ALFF in the anterior cingulate cortex, angular gyrus, and superior parietal lobule, along with increased ALFF in the postcentral gyrus post-training. VBM analysis revealed a significant increase in gray matter volume (GMV) in the right dorsal superior frontal gyrus after the training period, compared to the initial baseline measurement. Furthermore, the training group showed GMV increases in the dorsal superior frontal gyrus, Rolandic operculum, precentral gyrus, and postcentral gyrus when compared to the control group. In addition, significant associations were identifed between neuroimaging measurements (AFLL and VBM) and the spatial patterns of neurotransmitters such as serotonin (5-HT), dopamine (DA), and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA), providing insights into the underlying neurochemical processes. These findings clarify the neuroplastic changes caused by WMT, offering a deeper understanding of brain plasticity and highlighting the potential advantages of cognitive training interventions.