title: Bilateral activation of the prefrontal cortex after strategic semantic cognitive training.
abstract: The prefrontal cortex (PFC) has been implicated in the ability to apply semantic organizational strategies during verbal encoding and episodic learning. However, there has been no direct evidence demonstrating which specific areas in the PFC are engaged after cognitive training using semantic organizational strategies in healthy adult human subjects. In this study, we investigated the effects of semantic strategic training on brain activity and changes in behavioral performance, after cognitive training, using functional MRI (fMRI). There was a significant activation in bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal (DLPF) and orbitofrontal (OFC) areas after cognitive training. These results demonstrate the engagement of bilateral DLPF and OFC cortex during strategic memory processes, particularly when mobilization and effort of effective use of strategies are required. The functional adaptations observed here may also shed light on some of the processes underlying recovery with cognitive rehabilitation in patient populations with brain injury.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Hospital das Clinicas, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. ecmiotto@usp.br
authors.forename: Eliane C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Miotto
authors.forename: Cary R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Savage
authors.forename: Jonathan J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: Barbara A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: M G M
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.forename: Suzan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Iaki
authors.forename: Edson
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Amaro
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001931:Brain Mapping; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D013663:Teaching; D014705:Verbal Behavior / Q000502:physiology*