Chen, Yung-Nien, Mitra, Subhobrata and Schlaghecken, Friederike. (2008) Sub-processes of working memory in the N-back task: an investigation using ERPs. Clinical Neurophysiology, Vol.119 (No.7). pp. 1546-1559. ISSN 1388-2457

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Abstract

Objective: The N-back task is frequently used in working memory studies. N-parameters allow experimental psychologists to analyze the sub-processes of N-back tasks in addition to general processing. However, previous imaging studies have not closely scrutinized these sub-processes. In the current study, three sub-processes in the N-back task were proposed using a logical task analysis: matching, replacement and shift. Domain-specific lateralization in spatial and verbal working memory was investigated in terms of this model.

Methods: This model was tested with two ERP experiments during N-back tasks, one conceptual (top-down) and one data-driven (bottom-up).

Results: Domain-specific lateralization was observed as predicted in the shift sub-process of the conceptual task and in the replacement sub-process of the data-driven task. Match-specific lateralization was also found.

Conclusions: The results support our three-sub-process model of the N-back task and our hypothesis that replacement is a data-driven process with a posterior locus whereas shift is a more conceptual process with a more frontal locus.

Significance: The proposed model correctly predicted ERP patterns in conceptual and data-driven N-back tasks and is potentially useful in understanding the neurophysiologic basis of N-back task performance. The similarity between match- and domain-specific lateralization in N-back tasks raised several issues for further investigation. (C) 2008 International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC0321 Neuroscience. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry
Divisions:	Faculty of Science > Psychology
Journal or Publication Title:	Clinical Neurophysiology
Publisher:	Elsevier Ireland Ltd.
ISSN:	1388-2457
Official Date:	July 2008
Volume:	Vol.119
Number:	No.7
Number of Pages:	14
Page Range:	pp. 1546-1559
Identification Number:	10.1016/j.clinph.2008.03.003
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	Published
Access rights to Published version:	Restricted or Subscription Access
URI:	http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/id/eprint/29731

Data sourced from Thomson Reuters' Web of Knowledge

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