Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) applied to left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex disrupts verbal working memory performance in humans.
Working memory refers to the temporary maintenance and processing of information and involves executive processes that manipulate the contents of the working memory. The role of the executive function in the human left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (LDLPFC) was explored using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) after confirming the LDLPFC activation using fMRI. We applied double-pulse TMS having a 100-ms inter-pulse interval to LDLPFC immediately after the subjects finished reading the sentences of the reading span test (RST) task, an efficient measure of verbal working memory, in which dual tasks that include both sentence comprehension and word maintenance are required. Using eight normal participants, we found a significant deterioration of performance, i.e., decreased number of correctly reported words, in RST due to TMS stimulation of LDLPFC. Evidence suggests that transient functional disruption of the LDLPFC impairs performance in the maintenance processing of the RST task.
Osaka
Naoyuki
N
Department of Psychology, Graduate School of Letters, Kyoto University, Yoshida-Honmachi, Sakyoku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan. nosaka@bun.kyoto-u.ac.jp
Otsuka
Yuki
Y
Hirose
Nobuyuki
N
Ikeda
Takashi
T
Mima
Tatsuya
T
Fukuyama
Hidenao
H
Osaka
Mariko
M
D000328:Adult; D001931:Brain Mapping; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000098:blood supply / Q000528:radiation effects*; D011932:Reading; D013997:Time Factors; D050781:Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D014705:Verbal Behavior / Q000528:radiation effects*