TY - JOUR
T1 - Superior parietal cortex is critical for the manipulation of information in working memory
AU - Koenigs, Michael
AU - Barbey, Aron K.
AU - Postle, Bradley R.
AU - Grafman, Jordan
PY - 2009/11/25
Y1 - 2009/11/25
N2 - In recent years, theoretical perspectives on posterior parietal function have evolved beyond the traditional visuospatial processing models to include more diverse cognitive operations, such as long-term and working memory. However, definitive neuropsychological evidence supporting the superior parietal lobule's purported role in working memory has been lacking. Here, we studied human brain lesion patients to determine whether the superior parietal lobule is indeed necessary for working memory. We assessed a wide range of memory functions in three participant groups: superior parietal lesions (n = 19), lesions not involving superior parietal cortex (n = 146), and no brain lesions (n = 55). Superior parietal damage was reliably associated with deficits on tests involving the manipulation and rearrangement of information in working memory, but not on working memory tests requiring only rehearsal and retrieval processes, nor on tests of long-term memory. These results indicate that superior parietal cortex is critically important for the manipulation of information in working memory.
AB - In recent years, theoretical perspectives on posterior parietal function have evolved beyond the traditional visuospatial processing models to include more diverse cognitive operations, such as long-term and working memory. However, definitive neuropsychological evidence supporting the superior parietal lobule's purported role in working memory has been lacking. Here, we studied human brain lesion patients to determine whether the superior parietal lobule is indeed necessary for working memory. We assessed a wide range of memory functions in three participant groups: superior parietal lesions (n = 19), lesions not involving superior parietal cortex (n = 146), and no brain lesions (n = 55). Superior parietal damage was reliably associated with deficits on tests involving the manipulation and rearrangement of information in working memory, but not on working memory tests requiring only rehearsal and retrieval processes, nor on tests of long-term memory. These results indicate that superior parietal cortex is critically important for the manipulation of information in working memory.
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U2 - 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3706-09.2009
DO - 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3706-09.2009
M3 - Article
C2 - 19940193
AN - SCOPUS:72449187037
SN - 0270-6474
VL - 29
SP - 14980
EP - 14986
JO - Journal of Neuroscience
JF - Journal of Neuroscience
IS - 47
ER -