[Functional magnetic resonance tomography during the activation of working memory].
OBJECTIVE
Functional magnetic resonance imaging was used in conjunction with a letter detection task for the study of working memory in 16 normal subjects. Because of movement artifacts, data from only 9 subjects were analysed.


METHODS
In the activation task, subjects responded by pressing a button whenever any presented letter was the same as the second last in the sequence. In the control condition, the subjects had to respond to a fixed letter. Hence, the activation condition and the control condition differed only subjectively, i.e., regarding the task demand, whereas the stimuli and the type and frequency of response were identical.


RESULTS
The activation condition produced significant activation in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (Brodmann's areas 10, 46, and 9).


CONCLUSIONS
In contrast to experimental tasks previously used rather extensively to study the prefrontal cortex, the present paradigm is characterized by its simplicity, interpretability, and its ties to known neurophysiology of the frontal cortex.
Spitzer
M
M
Sektion Experimentelle Psychopathologie, Psychiatrische Universitätsklinik, Heidelberg.
Kammer
T
T
Bellemann
M E
ME
Gückel
F
F
Georgi
M
M
Gass
A
A
Brix
G
G
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D012016:Reference Values; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation; D013997:Time Factors
Funktionelle Magnetresonanztomographie bei Aktivierung des Arbeitsgedächtnisses.