Investigating working memory updating processes of the human subcortex using 7T MRI

  1. Anne C Trutti  Is a corresponding author
  2. Zsuzsika Sjoerds
  3. Russell J Boag
  4. Solenn LY Walstra
  5. Steven Miletić
  6. Scott JS Isherwood
  7. Pierre-Louis Bazin
  8. Bernhard Hommel
  9. Sarah Habli
  10. Desmond HY Tse
  11. Asta K Håberg
  12. Birte U Forstmann
  1. Integrative Model-Based Neuroscience Research Unit, University of Amsterdam, Netherlands
  2. Cognitive Psychology Unit, Institute of Psychology and Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden University, Netherlands
  3. Full brain picture Analytics, Netherlands
  4. Department of Psychology, Shandong Normal University, China
  5. Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway
11 figures, 10 tables and 2 additional files

Figures

Example of the reference-back paradigm, including functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) timing, as used in the experiment.

In each trial, participants are tasked with indicating whether the probe stimulus ('X' or 'O') matches or differs from the stimulus presented in the most recent red frame, which serves as the working memory referent. In reference trials (red frame), participants are required to update their working memory with the currently displayed item. On the other hand, in comparison trials (blue frame), participants make the ‘same/different' decision but do not update their working memory.

The figure illustrates the mean response times (and standard error of the mean) in relation to two factors.

(a) whether the condition was switched or repeated and (b) whether the stimulus/response matched the previous reference stimulus or differed from it. The figure also displays the associated behavioral contrasts and their significance levels. See Reference-back task for detailed information on how the contrasts were computed. Ref = reference trials; Com = comparison trials; GO = gate opening; GC = gate closing; S=substitution; UM = updating mode. ***=p<0.001.

Figure 2—source data 1

Behavioral measures from the experimental design.

https://cdn.elifesciences.org/articles/97874/elife-97874-fig2-data1-v1.csv
Statistical parametric map of the ‘gate opening’ contrast with a threshold determined using the family-wise error rate (FWER) method (p<0.05; corresponding to a threshold of z=2.3).
Statistical parametric map of the ‘gate closing’ contrast with a threshold determined using the family-wise error rate (FWER) method (p<0.05; corresponding to a threshold of z=2.3).
Statistical parametric map of the ‘substitution’ contrast with a threshold determined using the family-wise error rate (FWER) method (p<0.05; corresponding to a threshold of z=2.3).
Statistical parametric map of the ‘updating mode’ contrast with a threshold determined using the family-wise error rate (FWER) method (p<0.05; corresponding to a threshold of z=2.3).
Subcortical statistical parametric mapping of the four contrasts with a focus on the midbrain (top row), and midbrain and thalamic regions (bottom row) using a family-wise error rate (FWER) threshold of 2.3.

Coordinates are in MNI2009cAsym (1 mm) space. For orientation purposes, the MASSP atlas is overlaid: substantia nigra (SN) (blue), ventral tegmental area (VTA) (black), red nucleus (purple), subthalamic nucleus (green), periaqueductal gray (light blue), globus pallidus interna (GPi) (yellow), globus pallidus externa (GPe) (orange), striatum (white), and thalamus (gray).

Results of the region-of-interest-wise GLMs using the individually parcellated masks derived from MASSP.

Error bars represent the 95% credible intervals. Abbreviations indicate thalamus (Tha), striatum (Str), globus pallidus externa (GPe), globus pallidus interna (GPi), subthalamic nucleus (STN), substantia nigra (SN), and ventral tegmental area (VTA). * indicate moderate evidence and ** indicate strong evidence that the observed BOLD signal change is larger than 0.

Results of the region-of-interest-wise GLMs using the probabilistic atlas from Pauli et al., 2018.

Error bars represent the 95% credible intervals. Abbreviations indicate ventral tegmental area (VTA) nucleus, parabrachial pigmented (PBP) nucleus, and substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc). * indicate moderate evidence and ** indicate strong evidence that the observed BOLD signal change is larger than 0.

Appendix 1—figure 1
Results of the voxel-wise cluster-based region-of-interest (ROI) analysis using ROI-wide false discovery rate (FDR) correction (q<0.05) are illustrated.

Each row shows the BOLD signal change within the ROIs for one of the four working memory process contrasts, respectively.

Appendix 1—figure 2
The graph outlines the nonsignificant three-way interactions of the factors Trial-type (comparison, reference), Gate-Switch (repeat, switch), and Stimulus/Match (same, different) for both reaction time (RT; top) and accuracy (bottom), respectively.

The results indicate that the difference in RT between same and different trials is more pronounced in reference trials compared to comparison trials, suggesting that additional time is required for substitution of the WM item in the reference condition. However, in contrast to previous studies, a larger gate-switching cost, representing the difference between switch and repeat conditions, is only found in reference trials (gate opening) and not in comparison trials (gate closing). The error bars in the figures represent bootstrapped 95% confidence intervals.

Appendix 1—figure 2—source data 1

Behavioral measures from the experimental design.

https://cdn.elifesciences.org/articles/97874/elife-97874-app1-fig2-data1-v1.csv

Tables

Table 1
Hierarchical descriptive statistics for the behavioral data.
Response timeAccuracy
Trial typeSwitch typeResponse typeMean (s)SDMean (%)SD
ReferenceRepeatSame0.7510.24397.2050.164
Different0.9570.26995.2980.211
SwitchSame0.8070.27494.5600.227
Different1.0120.29191.0010.286
ComparisonRepeatSame0.7760.26293.0850.254
Different0.8610.25393.6930.243
SwitchSame0.760.21696.1960.191
Different0.8960.25596.3570.187
Table 2
Contrast weights for defining the four distinct working memory updating subprocessess.
Trial typereferencecomparison
Gate switchrepeatswitchrepeatswitch
Responsesamedifferentsamedifferentsamedifferentsamedifferent
Contrast
Gate opening--++
Gate closing--++
Substitution-++-
Updating mode++--
Table 3
List of peak activation in MNI coordinates from the whole-brain analysis.
MNI
hemVoxelsxyzZ
Gate opening
preSMAl13380–6.012.050.06.387
Occipital fusiform gyrusl8915–29.0–63.0–7.05.144
MFGr84934.09.029.05.129
Insularl724–30.029.0–1.05.025
Precuneus cortexl54827.0–67.025.04.422
Brainstem8410.0–33.0–29.04.338
Primary somatosensory cortexr204341.0–16.050.04.219
M1l976–27.0–28.064.04.064
Primary somatosensory cortexl566–53.0–14.040.03.958
M1r8111.0–24.081.03.363
Primary somatosensory cortexr3466.0–8.030.03.284
Primary motor cortexl92–35.0–20.045.03.188
Gate closing
Inferior parietal cortexl3769–27.0–64.036.04.560
Inferior temporal gyrusl716–52.0–65.0–12.04.376
VI (cerebellum)r241828.0–61.0–28.04.316
Fusiform gyrusl957–33.0–80.0–20.04.284
V (cerebellum)l1680–50.042.09.04.091
Fusiform gyrusr1435.0–79.0–21.03.070
Substitution
M1l68499–45.0–13.038.06.834
Putamenl1813–20.05.00.05.530
BA 9 (dlPFC)l714–22.056.033.04.763
Insularl108–31.017.010.03.389
Brainstem32–19.0–32.0–33.03.184
M1r1525.0–25.068.02.974
BA 9 (dlPFC)l21–31.041.045.02.892
Parahippocampal gyrusl12–28.0–30.0–20.02.825
Visual cortex V1r1229.0–62.05.02.803
Cingulate gyrusr155.0–51.019.02.728
Inferior parietal lobulel13–57.0–44.034.02.652
Visual cortex V4r1922.0–71.0–1.02.633
Updating mode
BA 40 (PPC)l24635–56.0–41.055.08.084
MFGl19609–36.00.065.06.160
BA 9 (dlPFC)l5254–44.038.033.05.816
Fusiform gyrusr1250330.0–70.0–17.05.776
Putamenl1486–21.015.0–2.04.983
Caudater170217.013.016.04.384
Inferior temporal gyrusr4549.0–38.0–16.03.162
Precuneus cortexr1918.0–60.031.02.754
Table 4
Results from the Bayesian one-sample t-test on the beta values derived from the region-of-interest (ROI)-wise GLMs are reported for each contrast and ROI.

Moderate or higher evidence for ROI activity is indicated by bold font. Bayes factors favoring the alternative hypothesis are reported under BF10, and Bayes factors favoring the null hypothesis in column BF01.

ROIhemBF10BF01Error %
Gate openingThal0.2873.4890.037
r1.0700.9340.023
Strl0.1975.0720.041
r0.1855.4070.041
GPel0.1925.2130.041
r0.9521.0500.024
GPil0.2663.7550.038
r0.5101.9620.031
STNl0.1935.1840.041
r0.1845.4400.041
SNl0.1845.4210.041
r0.1865.3720.041
VTAl0.1905.2500.041
r0.2074.8310.040
Gate closingThal0.2294.3640.039
r0.2084.7990.040
Strl0.6431.5560.028
r1.2390.8070.021
GPel0.2753.6360.038
r3.5820.2796.359×10–7
GPil0.2114.7460.040
r0.2054.8740.040
STNl0.4442.2550.033
r1.5680.6380.019
SNl1.1040.9050.022
r1.5370.6510.019
VTAl0.2543.9360.038
r0.4042.4780.034
SubstitutionThal1.7220.5810.018
r1.1380.8790.022
Strl3.8460.2605.752×10–7
r3.2920.3047.157×10–7
GPel1.2320.8120.021
r0.5021.9920.031
GPil2.3670.4221.108×10–6
r0.2643.7910.038
STNl1.4860.6730.019
r8.2060.1221.685×10–7
SNl0.3263.0650.036
r0.1845.4340.041
VTAl0.7791.2840.026
r4.0890.2455.267×10–7
Updating modeThal1.6050.6230.019
r1.0350.9670.023
Strl1.9430.5151.415×10–6
r2.2330.4481.192×10–6
GPel90.3270.0111.536×10–8
r3.9560.2535.523×10–7
GPil4.4510.2254.633×10–7
r0.1995.0240.040
STNl2.8620.3498.649×10–7
r14.1170.0715.350×10–8
SNl0.9081.1010.025
r3.2730.3067.215×10–7
VTAl0.3482.8770.035
r2.1850.4581.225×10–6
Table 5
Results from the Bayesian one-sample t-test on the beta values derived from the region-of-interest (ROI) GLMs using the masks from Pauli et al., 2018, are reported for each contrast and ROI.

Moderate or higher evidence for ROI activity is indicated by bold font. Bayes factors favoring the alternative hypothesis are reported under BF10, and Bayes factors favoring the null hypothesis in column BF01.

ROIhemBF10BF01Error %
Gate openingVTAncl0.1905.2560.041
r0.1845.4360.041
PBPl0.3512.8510.035
r0.1855.3920.041
SNcl0.2673.7410.038
r0.1985.0480.041
Gate closingVTAncl0.3882.5780.034
r0.2134.7050.040
PBPl0.3402.9440.035
r0.4142.4150.033
SNcl3.3480.2996.990×10–7
r32.2930.0314.835×10–9
SubstitutionVTAncl0.1845.4290.041
r0.4592.1780.032
PBPl0.7741.2920.026
r3.9130.2565.609×10–7
SNcl0.7541.3260.027
r13.3300.0756.138×10–8
Updating modeVTAncl0.2244.4740.040
r0.3432.9160.035
PBPl0.2653.7770.038
r1.3040.7670.021
SNcl3.1050.3227.757×10–7
r142.5290.0072.305×10–4
Note: For all tests, the alternative hypothesis specifies that the population mean differs from 0. BF10 1–3 indicates weak evidence, BF10 3–10 moderate evidence, and BF10 >10 strong evidence.
Appendix 1—table 1
List of peak activation in MNI coordinates from the cluster-based region-of-interest (ROI) analysis.
MNI
ROIhemVoxelsxyzZ
Gate opening
dlPFCBA8l401–7.026.046.05.733
BA8r2059.025.045.04.667
BA9l239–46.015.032.05.122
BA9r17934.09.029.05.129
BA46l94–51.022.027.04.746
mPFCBA24l123–9.04.040.04.154
BA32l219–9.011.045.04.667
SubcortexThal401–14.0–17.016.04.613
Gate closing
dlPFCBA46l57–50.042.09.04.091
PPCBA7l306–34.0–63.055.04.392
BA40l89–45.0–47.039.04.111
Substitution
dlPFCBA8l258–7.025.035.04.704
BA8r74.015.042.04.473
BA9l159–22.056.033.04.763
mPFCBA32r1199.013.040.04.533
PPCBA7l1839–14.0–70.062.05.256
BA7r2935.0–61.063.04.675
BA40l335–63.0–52.030.04.822
SubcortexThal1151–25.0–26.0–8.05.129
Thar4486.0–23.02.04.963
Cal701–14.011.010.04.875
Car102115.016.0–5.04.710
Pul402–20.05.00.05.530
Pur29616.015.0–5.04.791
GPel204–20.05.00.05.530
SNl46–11.0–24.0–13.04.236
SNr1911.0–16.0–10.03.962
VTAl129–2.0–22.0–19.04.911
VTAr1452.0–22.0–19.04.349
Updating mode
dlPFCBA8l143–26.05.060.05.423
BA8r3024.019.065.04.008
BA9l832–44.038.033.05.816
BA9r49132.038.026.04.509
BA46l686–45.042.017.05.695
BA46r52546.037.014.04.238
mPFCBA32l20–4.010.045.03.367
PPCBA7l2520–7.0–77.052.06.111
BA7r24838.0–40.042.05.465
BA40l2140–56.0–41.055.08.084
BA40r187049.0–41.056.06.155
SubcortexCal474–15.09.010.04.369
Car55917.013.016.04.384
Pul445–21.015.0–2.04.983
Pur32618.09.0–8.04.268
GPel13–17.09.0–1.03.864
Appendix 1—table 2
List of peak activation in MNI coordinates from the cluster-based region-of-interest (ROI) analysis using the dopaminergic nuclei’ masks from Pauli et al., 2018, after false discovery rate (FDR) correction (q<0.05).

The data suggests no activation in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) nucleus and parabrachial pigmented (PBP) nucleus, after FDR correction was applied.

MNI
ROIhemVoxelsxyzZ
Substitution
SNcl16–10.0–25.0–13.04.489
r5610.0–17.0–10.04.178
Appendix 1—table 3
Significance testing of mean response time (RT) effects using a general linear mixed model with a Gaussian link function.
EffectdfFp
Trial type1, 36.2073.520<0.001
Switch type1, 44.4532.521<0.001
Response type1, 33.82263.189<0.001
Trial type × switch type1, 56.8219.802<0.001
Trial type ×  response type1, 33.5929.062<0.001
Switch type  × response type1, 166.026.0050.015
Trial type × switch type  ×  response type1, 33.173.8360.059
  1. Note: Type III sum of squares.

  2. Trial type = reference/comparison, match = same/different, switch = repeat/switch.

Appendix 1—table 4
Significance testing of accuracy effects using a generalized linear mixed model with a probit link function.
EffectdfFp
Trial type10.1670.683
Switch type15.6660.017
Response type10.3060.580
Trial type × switch type19.9960.002
Trial type ×  response type142.588<0.001
Switch type  × response type10.0860.770
Trial type × switch type  ×  response type10.0070.934
  1. Note: Type III sum of squares.

  2. Trial type = reference/comparison, match = same/different, switch = repeat/switch.

Appendix 1—table 5
Inferential statistics of the response time and accuracy data analysis.
EstimateSEdfzp*
Response time
Gate opening0.1200.018346.547<0.001
Gate closing0.0140.015340.9490.797
Substitution0.1250.020346.107<0.001
Updating mode0.0700.015344.598<0.001
Accuracy
Gate opening–0.0620.014–4.463<0.001
Gate closing0.0490.0133.802<0.001
Substitution–0.0210.012–1.7920.073
Updating mode0.0480.0133.726<0.001
  1. *

    p-Values are adjusted using Holm adjustment.

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  1. Anne C Trutti
  2. Zsuzsika Sjoerds
  3. Russell J Boag
  4. Solenn LY Walstra
  5. Steven Miletić
  6. Scott JS Isherwood
  7. Pierre-Louis Bazin
  8. Bernhard Hommel
  9. Sarah Habli
  10. Desmond HY Tse
  11. Asta K Håberg
  12. Birte U Forstmann
(2025)
Investigating working memory updating processes of the human subcortex using 7T MRI
eLife 13:RP97874.
https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.97874.3