title: Gray matter responsiveness to adaptive working memory training: a surface-based morphometry study.
abstract: Here we analyze gray matter indices before and after completing a challenging adaptive cognitive training program based on the n-back task. The considered gray matter indices were cortical thickness (CT) and cortical surface area (CSA). Twenty-eight young women (age range 17-22 years) completed 24 training sessions over the course of 3 months (12 weeks, 24 sessions), showing expected performance improvements. CT and CSA values for the training group were compared with those of a matched control group. Statistical analyses were computed using a ROI framework defined by brain areas distinguished by their genetic underpinning. The interaction between group and time was analyzed. Middle temporal, ventral frontal, inferior parietal cortices, and pars opercularis were the regions where the training group showed conservation of gray matter with respect to the control group. These regions support working memory, resistance to interference, and inhibition. Furthermore, an interaction with baseline intelligence differences showed that the expected decreasing trend at the biological level for individuals showing relatively low intelligence levels at baseline was attenuated by the completed training.
authors.affiliation: Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Francisco J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Román
authors.affiliation: Montreal Neurological Institute (MNI), McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
authors.forename: Lindsay B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.affiliation: University of California, San Diego, USA.
authors.forename: Chi-Hua
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Montreal Neurological Institute (MNI), McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
authors.forename: Sherif
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Karama
authors.affiliation: Universidad Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Burgaleta
authors.affiliation: Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049, Madrid, Spain.|Hospital Gregorio Marañon, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Kenia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Martínez
authors.affiliation: Montreal Neurological Institute (MNI), McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
authors.forename: Claude
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lepage
authors.affiliation: University of California at Irvine, Irvine, USA.
authors.forename: Susanne M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Jaeggi
authors.affiliation: Montreal Neurological Institute (MNI), McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
authors.forename: Alan C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.affiliation: University of California, San Diego, USA.
authors.forename: William S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Kremen
authors.affiliation: Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049, Madrid, Spain. roberto.colom@uam.es.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Colom
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D066128:Gray Matter / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence / Q000502:physiology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Brain plasticity; Cognitive training; Cortical surface area; Cortical thickness; Surface-based morphometry