title: Working memory training using mental calculation impacts regional gray matter of the frontal and parietal regions.
abstract: Training working memory (WM) improves performance on untrained cognitive tasks and alters functional activity. However, WM training's effects on gray matter morphology and a wide range of cognitive tasks are still unknown. We investigated this issue using voxel-based morphometry (VBM), various psychological measures, such as non-trained WM tasks and a creativity task, and intensive adaptive training of WM using mental calculations (IATWMMC), all of which are typical WM tasks. IATWMMC was associated with reduced regional gray matter volume in the bilateral fronto-parietal regions and the left superior temporal gyrus. It improved verbal letter span and complex arithmetic ability, but deteriorated creativity. These results confirm the training-induced plasticity in psychological mechanisms and the plasticity of gray matter structures in regions that have been assumed to be under strong genetic control.
authors: Smart Ageing International Research Center, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan. takehi@idac.tohoku.ac.jp
authors: Hikaru
authors: H
authors: Takeuchi
authors: Yasuyuki
authors: Y
authors: Taki
authors: Yuko
authors: Y
authors: Sassa
authors: Hiroshi
authors: H
authors: Hashizume
authors: Atsushi
authors: A
authors: Sekiguchi
authors: Ai
authors: A
authors: Fukushima
authors: Ryuta
authors: R
authors: Kawashima
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000502:physiology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010296:Parietal Lobe / Q000502:physiology*; D010919:Placebos; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D010919:Placebos