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SUMMARY:Working Memory: Mechanisms of training and development during chil
 dhood - Torkel Klingberg (Karolinksa Insitute\, Sweden)
DTSTART:20140605T143000Z
DTEND:20140605T153000Z
UID:TALK51805@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Mandy Carter
DESCRIPTION:A growing number of studies\, using different training paradig
 ms\, show that training on working memory tasks\, can improve performance 
 also of non-trained working memory tasks and that WM capacity is not a fix
 ed characterise. This transfer can be demonstrated from training of visuo-
 spatial tasks to non-trained "complex" WM tasks\, verbal tasks including r
 emembering of instructions. This shows that WM capacity\, in contrast to e
 arlier believes\, is possible to modify.\n\nCognitive training has also ig
 nited research on the neural plasticity associated with cognitive training
 \, with a range of methods now including animal studies with mice and monk
 eys\, genetics\, neurophysiology in non-human primates\, EEG\, fMRI and PE
 T. A key question is to what extent the neural mechanisms underlying WM tr
 aining are the same as those involved in development of WM capacity during
  childhood.\n\nDevelopment of WM capacity is associated with increased BOL
 D activity in the frontal and parietal cortex\, increased white matter vol
 ume and increased fractional anisotropy (FA) in fronto-parietal connection
 s\, as well as thinning of cortex in parietal and frontal regions. These f
 indings show the importance of the fronto-parietal network\, and are consi
 stent with studies of inter-individual differences in capacity during deve
 lopment. However\, most of these studies are cross-sectional and has not p
 inpointed predictors of future development. \n\nIn two analyses of longitu
 dinal data we aimed at finding brain signals predicting future WM in child
 ren (Ullman et al. 2014\; Darki and Klingberg\, 2014). BOLD signal\, grey 
 matter density and fractional anisotropy data was measured in children and
  adolescents aged 6-20. It found that in addition to information from beha
 vioural testing\, imaging data could provide unique information about futu
 re WM capacity. Moreover\, while cross-sectional analyses related the WM c
 apacity to fronto-parietal networks\, future WM capacity was predicted fro
 m striatal activity and structure of fronto-parietal and fronto-striatal p
 athways. These studies show novel aspects of the dynamics of neural develo
 pment. The role of the striatum in development could be similar to that sh
 own in imaging studies of WM training and in genetic studies\, which impli
 cate the dopamine DRD2 receptors\, and DAT-1 transporters that are both pr
 imarily found in the striatum.\n\nStudying training of cognitive functions
  could thus be a useful tool for understanding brain plasticity during dev
 elopment. \n
LOCATION:Lecture Theatre\, MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit\, Chaucer
  Road
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