Working memory load modulates the auditory "what" and "where" neural networks
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1
Rotman Research Institute at Baycrest and University of Toronto, Canada
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2
Rotman Research Institute at Baycrest, Canada
Working memory for sound identity (what) and sound location (where) has been associated with increased neural activity in ventral and dorsal brain regions, respectively. To further ascertain this domain specificity, we measured functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) signal during an n-back (n = 1, 2) working memory task for sound identity or location, where stimuli selected randomly from three semantic categories (human, animal, music) were presented at three possible virtual locations. Accuracy and reaction times were comparable in both "what" and "where" tasks, albeit worse for the 2-back than for the 1-back condition. The analysis of fMRI data revealed greater activity in ventral and dorsal brain regions during sound identity and sound location, respectively. More importantly, there was an interaction between task and working memory load in the inferior parietal lobule (IPL). The lateral and superior area of the right IPL showed increased activity with increased memory load for sound identity only, whereas the left supramarginal gyrus and the bilateral inferior and medial IPL showed increased activity only during sound location. These specific changes in neural activity as a function of working memory load reveal domain-specificity within the parietal cortex.
Keywords:
Attention,
fMRI,
IPL
Conference:
XI International Conference on Cognitive Neuroscience (ICON XI), Palma, Mallorca, Spain, 25 Sep - 29 Sep, 2011.
Presentation Type:
Symposium: Oral Presentation
Topic:
Symposium 5: Auditory processing
Citation:
Alain
C and
Leung
A
(2011). Working memory load modulates the auditory "what" and "where" neural networks.
Conference Abstract:
XI International Conference on Cognitive Neuroscience (ICON XI).
doi: 10.3389/conf.fnhum.2011.207.00034
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Received:
09 Nov 2011;
Published Online:
15 Nov 2011.
*
Correspondence:
Dr. Claude Alain, Rotman Research Institute at Baycrest and University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada, calain@research.baycrest.org