Efficient learning produces spontaneous neural repetition suppression in prefrontal cortex

Our study focuses on the physiological effects of repetition on learning and working memory using an adaptation of Luria's Memory Word-Task (LMWT). We assess the hemodynamic response in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) of 13 healthy subjects while completing LMWT. Free word recalls were a...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: León Carrión, José, Izzetoglu, Meltem, Izzetoglu, Kurtulus, Martín Rodríguez, Juan Francisco, Damas-López, Jesús, Barroso Martín, Juan Manuel, Domínguez Morales, María Rosario
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión aceptada para publicación
Fecha de publicación:2010
País:España
Institución:Universidad de Sevilla (US)
Repositorio:idUS. Depósito de Investigación de la Universidad de Sevilla
OAI Identifier:oai:idus.us.es:11441/154778
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/11441/154778
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbr.2009.12.026
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Neural repetition suppression
Learning
Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex
Near-infrared spectroscopy
Working memory
Descripción
Sumario:Our study focuses on the physiological effects of repetition on learning and working memory using an adaptation of Luria's Memory Word-Task (LMWT). We assess the hemodynamic response in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) of 13 healthy subjects while completing LMWT. Free word recalls were acquired at the beginning, middle and end of the task. Behavioral results showed that all subjects could recall the complete word list by the 10th trial, which was considered as successful task accomplishment. We observed an attenuation of stimulus-evoked neural activity in prefrontal neurons. Our findings show that the temporal integration of efficient verbal learning is mediated by a mechanism known as neural repetition suppression (NRS). This mechanism facilitates cortical deactivation in DLPFC once learning is successfully completed. This cortical reorganization is interpreted as a progressive optimization of neural responses to produce a more efficient use of neural circuits. NRS could be considered one of the natural mechanisms involved in the processes of memory learning.