Dynamics of white matter plasticity underlying working memory training: Multi-modal evidence from diffusion MRI and relaxometry

Metzler-Baddeley, Claudia ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8646-1144, Foley, Sonya ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8390-2709, De Santis, Silvia ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9739-6926, Charron, Cyril, Hampshire, Adam, Caeyenberghs, Karen and Jones, Derek ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4409-8049 2017. Dynamics of white matter plasticity underlying working memory training: Multi-modal evidence from diffusion MRI and relaxometry. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience 29 (9) , pp. 1509-1520. 10.1162/jocn_a_01127

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Abstract

Adaptive working memory (WM) training may lead to cognitive benefits that are associated with white matter plasticity in parietofrontal networks, but the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. We investigated white matter microstructural changes after adaptive WM training relative to a nonadaptive comparison group. Microstructural changes were studied in the superior longitudinal fasciculus, the main parietofrontal connection, and the cingulum bundle as a comparison pathway. MRIbased metrics were the myelin water fraction and longitudinal relaxation rate R1 from multicomponent T2 relaxometry (captured with the mcDESPOT approach) as proxy metrics of myelin, the restricted volume fraction from the composite hindered and restricted model of diffusion as an estimate of axon morphology, and fractional anisotropy and radial diffusivity from diffusion tensor imaging. PCA was used for dimensionality reduction. Adaptive training was associated with benefits in a “WM capacity” component and increases in a microstructural component (increases in R1, restricted volume fraction, fractional anisotropy, and reduced radial diffusivity) that predominantly loaded on changes in the right dorsolateral superior longitudinal fasciculus and the left parahippocampal cingulum. In contrast, nonadaptive comparison activities were associated with the opposite pattern of reductions in WM capacity and microstructure. No group differences were observed for the myelin water fraction metric suggesting that R1 was a more sensitive “myelin” index. These results demonstrate task complexity and location-specific whitemattermicrostructural changes that are consistent with tissue alterations underlying myelination in response to training.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC) Psychology
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Neural plasticity, Memory: Working memory, Attention: Visual,Neuroimaging, Myelin
Publisher:	Massachusetts Institute of Technology Press
ISSN:	0898-929X
Funders:	Wellcome Trust
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	17 May 2017
Date of Acceptance:	25 February 2017
Last Modified:	19 Nov 2023 15:58
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/98453

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