title: Activation of the prefrontal cortex in working memory and interference resolution processes assessed with near-infrared spectroscopy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study investigated cortical correlates of top-down processes in visual-object working memory with multi-channel near-infrared spectroscopy.
  
  
  METHODS
  The activity of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) was investigated while performing an n-back task with sequentially presented task-relevant and task-irrelevant faces. The activation patterns in the PFC associated with working memory and interference resolution were examined in 20 healthy adults.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found a bilateral enhancement of oxygenated haemoglobin in the lateral PFC for remembering relevant faces and in the right lateral PFC for ignoring irrelevant faces. Oxygenation for relevant and irrelevant faces did not differ significantly, indicating that memory processes and interference resolution were interdependent functions, which were subserved by comparable prefrontal regions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This supports the notion that the prefrontal activity during working memory tasks reflects not only maintenance processes but also attentional monitoring and selection processes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Theresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schreppel
authors.forename: Johanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Egetemeir
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schecklmann
authors.forename: Michael M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Plichta
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pauli
authors.forename: Heiner
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ellgring
authors.forename: Andreas J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Fallgatter
authors.forename: Martin J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Herrmann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005364:Field Dependence-Independence; D006801:Humans; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000502:physiology*; D010108:Oxyhemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D021641:Recognition, Psychology / Q000502:physiology; D019265:Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D010108:Oxyhemoglobins