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A preliminary study of dynamic neurochemical changes in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex during working memory
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  • Hyerin Oh,
  • Adam Berrington,
  • Dorothee Auer,
  • Ben Babourina-Brooks,
  • Henryk Faas,
  • Jeyoung Jung
Hyerin Oh
University of Nottingham
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Adam Berrington
University of Nottingham
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Dorothee Auer
University of Nottingham
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Ben Babourina-Brooks
University of Nottingham
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Henryk Faas
University of Nottingham
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Jeyoung Jung
University of Nottingham

Corresponding Author:jeyoung.jung@nottingham.ac.uk

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Abstract

Working memory (WM) is one of the fundamental cognitive functions associated with the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). However, we still know little about the neurochemical mechanisms of WM in the DLPFC. Here, we investigated WM-related dynamic neurometabolite and hemodynamic responses in the DLPFC. We measured Glx (glutamate+glutamine) and GABA alterations as well as blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) signal changes during a WM task combining functional magnetic resonance spectroscopy and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). In the DLPFC, we found that a 2-back task increased Glx concentrations and larger BOLD signal changes, and that these task-modulated Glx increases were positively correlated with task-induced regional activity. Importantly, task induced Glx changes in the DLPFC were associated with individual WM performance. Higher Glx increases were associated with increased DLPFC activation and lower WM task performance in the individuals. There were no changes in DLPFC GABA levels during WM processing. Our findings suggest that glutamatergic modulation in the DLPFC may play a critical role in WM processing and its performance.
17 Mar 2023Submitted to European Journal of Neuroscience
18 Mar 2023Submission Checks Completed
18 Mar 2023Assigned to Editor
19 Mar 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
21 Mar 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
02 May 2023Editorial Decision: Revise Major
25 Aug 20231st Revision Received
29 Aug 2023Submission Checks Completed
29 Aug 2023Assigned to Editor
29 Aug 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
29 Aug 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
22 Oct 2023Editorial Decision: Revise Major
21 Nov 20232nd Revision Received
24 Jan 20243rd Revision Received
29 Jan 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
31 Jan 2024Editorial Decision: Accept