Frontoparietal brain network plays a crucial role in working memory capacity during complex cognitive task

eNeuro. 2024. Vol. 11. No. 8. Article ENEURO.0394-23.2024.

Otstavnov N., Nieto Doval C. M., Galli G., Feurra M.

Recent neurophysiological studies provide inconsistent results of fronto-parietal network stimulation for altering working memory capacity. This study aimed to boost working memory capacity by manipulating the activity of the fronto-parietal network via dual-site High-Definition transcranial direct current stimulation. Forty-eight participants were randomly assigned to three stimulation groups, receiving either simultaneous anodal stimulation of the frontal and parietal areas (double stimulation), or stimulation of the frontal area only (single stimulation), or the placebo stimulation (sham) to frontal and parietal areas. After the stimulation, we used an Operation Span task to test memory accuracy, mathematical accuracy, time of calculation and memorizing and recall response time across the three groups. The results revealed an enhancement of memory accuracy and a reduction of time of calculation in the double stimulation group compared to others. In addition, recall response time was significantly decreased in the double and single stimulation groups compared to sham. No differences in mathematical accuracy were observed. Our results confirm the pivotal role of the fronto-parietal network in working memory and suggest its functional dissociation, with the frontal component more implicated in the retrieval stage, and the parietal component in the processing and retention stages.

Keywords: рабочая память, tDCS, HD-tDCS, транскраниальная стимуляция постоянным током, working memory (WM), Operation Span, операционная задача, транскраниальная стимуляция постоянным током высокого разрешения

Publication based on the results of: Study of neuronal processes in cognitive and fundamental and applied neuroeconomic tasks, taking into account individual differences (2024)