Neural correlates of improved working memory following Neuroplasticity-Based Computerized Cognitive Remediation in major depressive disorder

Congress:

ECR 2020

Poster Number:

C-01617

Type:

Scientific Exhibit

Keywords:

Neuro, Computer applications, Head and neck, Neuroradiology brain, MR, MR-Functional imaging, Neural networks, Computer Applications-Detection, diagnosis, Experimental investigations, Drugs / Reactions, Education and training, Prospective, Experimental, Performed at one institution

Authors:

J. fan, J. Liu; NanJing/CN

DOI:

10.26044/ecr2020/C-01617

DOI-Link:

https://dx.doi.org/10.26044/ecr2020/C-01617

Fig. 1: A visual depiction of the n-back task. Participants pressed a button with their...

Fig. 2: An NBCCR program named “Catch the Ball”: (Individually titrated training in...

Fig. 3: Between-group contrast at PRO on the n-back task (1-back minus 0-back). NBCCR...

Fig. 4: Between-group contrast at PRO on the n-back task (2-back minus 0-back). NBCCR...

Purpose

Neuroplasticity-Based Computerized Cognitive Remediation (NBCCR) may improve working memory in patients with Major depressive disorder (MDD) by mediating fronto-parietal network.In this study, we used fMRI during an numerical n-back working memory task to investigate the brain changes in depressed patients following an NBCCR intervention.

Methods and materials

We investigated 34 MDD patients (control:13,NBCCR:21) performing an n-back task (0-back,1-back,2-back condition) in a 3T-fMRI. In this study, an NBCCR program named "Catch the Ball" was used to treat patients in NBCCR group for a period of 1 week and a total of 10 hours of cognitive remediation . SPM8 was used to compare the activation differences within two groups (pre and pro) under the two conditions (1back-0back and 2back-0back).Although subjects' heads were fixed in the scanner, several subjects with excessive head movement had to...

Results

There was no significant difference in age, gender and education years between the two groups .At baseline ,There was no statistically significant difference in brain activation between two groups during two conditions .Following 1 week remediation, NBCCR group displayed differing neural activation in the left Inferior parietal gyrus (1back-0back,PGRF-corrected=0.05)and the cingulate gyrus、parietal lobe、frontal lobe、precuneus (2back-0back, PGRF-corrected=0.05).

Conclusion

We found distinct differences in brain activations in fronto-parietal network between two groups [differing neural activation in the left Inferior parietal gyrus (1back-0back) and the cingulate gyrus、parietal lobe、frontal lobe、precuneus (2back-0back)].The prefrontal cortex plays an indispensable role in improving N-back task performance, by selectingproper high-level organizational chunks toreduce the cognitive load thereby enhancing working memory. Thus,This region mayserve to the strategic control of WM.The precuneus, which we found to be affected during 2back-0back condition, is known to be involved in episodic memory retrieval– alsonecessary for WM...

Personal information and conflict of interest

J. Fan; NanJing/CN - Author at Southeast University - Investigator at ZhongDa Hospital - Speaker at School of Medicine ,Southeast university J. Liu; NanJing/CN - Author at Zhongda Hospital - Investigator at Zhongda Hospital All authors report no conflict of interest.

References

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