Code

Code for: Shedding light on the frontal hemodynamics of spatial working memory using functional near-infrared spectroscopy

Author(s) / Creator(s)

Geißler, Christoph
Domes, Gregor
Frings, Christian

Abstract / Description

The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex has been shown to be a key functional network within the middle frontal gyrus in regards to working memory processing. A commonly used paradigm in this line of research is the n-back task. The standard variant of the task requires participants to state whether the current item has been presented n trials prior (or not). Two possible strategies could be used to complete the task. Participants may either actively uphold the last n items in working memory or they may use item familiarity as basis for a decision. Previous functional near infrared spectroscopy studies using this paradigm have reported differing load dependent patterns of middle frontal gyrus activation which might at least in part be attributed to these different strategies. We used a spatial variant of the n-back task in which participants had to reproduce a pattern of locations n trials after presentation. We could thus eliminate the possibility of relying on familiarity for successful task completion. In line with previous functional magnetic resonance imaging studies we found a rise in middle frontal gyrus activity with rising working memory load. This was mainly reflected by a decrease in concentration of deoxygenated blood in this area. In line with previous research utilizing spatial paradigms, we found a lateralization of activity to the right hemisphere. We propose that the forced recall version of the n-back task is a valid alternative to the standard paradigm and can eliminate unwanted variance due to differing strategies, especially in high load conditions.
Code for: Geissler, C. F., Domes, G., & Frings, C. (2020). Shedding light on the frontal hemodynamics of spatial working memory using functional near-infrared spectroscopy. Neuropsychologia, 146, 107570. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2020.107570

Keyword(s)

Functional near-infrared spectroscopy Prefrontal cortex Executive functions Spatial n-back task

Persistent Identifier

Date of first publication

2020

Publisher

PsychArchives

Is referenced by

Citation

Geißler, C., Domes, G., & Frings, C. C. (2020). Code for: Shedding light on the frontal hemodynamics of spatial working memory using functional near-infrared spectroscopy. PsychArchives. https://doi.org/10.23668/PSYCHARCHIVES.3134
  • Author(s) / Creator(s)
    Geißler, Christoph
  • Author(s) / Creator(s)
    Domes, Gregor
  • Author(s) / Creator(s)
    Frings, Christian
  • PsychArchives acquisition timestamp
    2020-07-17T12:00:38Z
  • Made available on
    2020-07-17T12:00:38Z
  • Date of first publication
    2020
  • Abstract / Description
    The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex has been shown to be a key functional network within the middle frontal gyrus in regards to working memory processing. A commonly used paradigm in this line of research is the n-back task. The standard variant of the task requires participants to state whether the current item has been presented n trials prior (or not). Two possible strategies could be used to complete the task. Participants may either actively uphold the last n items in working memory or they may use item familiarity as basis for a decision. Previous functional near infrared spectroscopy studies using this paradigm have reported differing load dependent patterns of middle frontal gyrus activation which might at least in part be attributed to these different strategies. We used a spatial variant of the n-back task in which participants had to reproduce a pattern of locations n trials after presentation. We could thus eliminate the possibility of relying on familiarity for successful task completion. In line with previous functional magnetic resonance imaging studies we found a rise in middle frontal gyrus activity with rising working memory load. This was mainly reflected by a decrease in concentration of deoxygenated blood in this area. In line with previous research utilizing spatial paradigms, we found a lateralization of activity to the right hemisphere. We propose that the forced recall version of the n-back task is a valid alternative to the standard paradigm and can eliminate unwanted variance due to differing strategies, especially in high load conditions.
    en
  • Abstract / Description
    Code for: Geissler, C. F., Domes, G., & Frings, C. (2020). Shedding light on the frontal hemodynamics of spatial working memory using functional near-infrared spectroscopy. Neuropsychologia, 146, 107570. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2020.107570
    en
  • Table of contents
    ePrime Code for n-Back Task; NIRS Toolbox Processing Pipeline for Neuro Data of n-Back Task; SPSS Syntax for Behavioral Data of n-Back Task
    en
  • Citation
    Geißler, C., Domes, G., & Frings, C. C. (2020). Code for: Shedding light on the frontal hemodynamics of spatial working memory using functional near-infrared spectroscopy. PsychArchives. https://doi.org/10.23668/PSYCHARCHIVES.3134
    en
  • Persistent Identifier
    https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12034/2750
  • Persistent Identifier
    https://doi.org/10.23668/psycharchives.3134
  • Language of content
    eng
  • Language of content
    deu
  • Publisher
    PsychArchives
    en
  • Is referenced by
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2020.107570
  • Is related to
    https://doi.org/10.23668/psycharchives.3133
  • Is related to
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2020.107570
  • Keyword(s)
    Functional near-infrared spectroscopy
    en
  • Keyword(s)
    Prefrontal cortex
    en
  • Keyword(s)
    Executive functions
    en
  • Keyword(s)
    Spatial n-back task
    en
  • Dewey Decimal Classification number(s)
    150
  • Title
    Code for: Shedding light on the frontal hemodynamics of spatial working memory using functional near-infrared spectroscopy
    en
  • DRO type
    code
    en