Functional activation in the cerebellum during working memory and simple speech tasks

Abstract

Verbal working memory is the ability to temporarily store and manipulate verbal information. This study tested the predictions of a neuroanatomical model of how the cerebellum contributes to verbal working memory (Desmond et al., 1997). In this model, a large bilateral region in the superior cerebellum is associated with articulatory rehearsal and a right-lateralized region in the inferior cerebellum is associated with the correction of errors within the working memory system. The Desmond et al. (1997) model was based on neuroimaging findings using item recognition tasks and comparisons between working memory and covert rehearsal tasks, whereas in this fMRI study we used a delayed serial recall (DSR) task because it relies more heavily on articulatory rehearsal, and our comparison tasks included both overt and covert speech tasks. Our results provide some support for the Desmond et al. (1997) model. In particular, we found multiple activation foci within the superior and inferior sectors of the cerebellum and evidence that these regions show different patterns of activation across working memory and speech tasks. However, the specific patterns of activation were not fully consistent with those reported by Desmond et al. (1997). Namely, our results indicate that activation in the superior sector should be functionally subdivided into a medial focus involved in speech processing and a lateral focus more specific to verbal working memory; the results also indicate that activation in the inferior sector is not uniquely right-lateralized. These complex findings speak to the need for future studies to consider the speech-motor aspects of tasks, to investigate the functional significance of adjacent peaks of activation within large regions of cerebellar activation, and to use analysis procedures that support regional distinctions through direct statistical tests. Such studies would help to refine our understanding of how the cerebellum contributes to speech and verbal working memory.

Rhythm information represented in the fronto-parieto-cerebellar motor system

“…As previously suggested, the CB has an important role in cognitive functions (Ramnani, 2006;Salmi et al, 2010). Thus, the CB activations are probably associated directly with working memory functions (Desmond et al, 1997;Durisko and Fiez, 2010;Kirschen et al, 2010). The function of the CB during the acquisition of motor memory or motor learning has also been discussed (e.g., .…”

The organization of the human cerebellum estimated by intrinsic functional connectivity

“…Activation of the cerebellum during cognitive tasks has been a common observation (Desmond and Fiez 1998;Timmann and Daum 1997), leading to several explorations of the functional meaning of the responses (e.g., Durisko and Fiez 2010;Marvell and Desmond 2010;O'Reilly et al 2008;Spencer et al 2007). Recently, Stoodley and Schmahmann (2009) conducted a meta-analysis of previously published articles that reported cerebellar activations across a range of sensory, motor, and cognitive tasks.…”

The Interplay between Cognitive and Motor Functioning in Healthy Older Adults: Findings from Dual-Task Studies and Suggestions for Intervention

“…Both training tasks, cognitive and motor, are designed to activate the same brain region, namely the cerebellum [34][35][36] . Cognitive training consists of verbal working memory tasks, and motor training consists of treadmill walking.…”