Semantic strategy training increases memory performance and brain activity in patients with prefrontal cortex lesions

• Published in: Clinical neurology and neurosurgery 2013-03, Vol.115 (3), p.309-316
• Main Authors: Miotto, Eliane C, Savage, Cary R, Evans, Jonathan J, Wilson, Barbara A, Martin, Maria G.M, Balardin, Joana B, Barros, Fabio G, Garrido, Griselda, Teixeira, Manoel J, Amaro Junior, Edson
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Brain; Brain - physiology; Brain Diseases - psychology; Brain Diseases - rehabilitation; Brain Diseases - surgery; Brain Mapping; Brain Neoplasms - complications; Brain Neoplasms - surgery; Cerebrovascular Circulation; Cognitive ability; Cortex (frontal); Cortex (parietal); Cortex (prefrontal); Echo-Planar Imaging; Female; frontal gyrus; Functional magnetic resonance imaging; Humans; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Memory; Memory - physiology; Memory Disorders - etiology; Memory Disorders - psychology; Memory Disorders - rehabilitation; Mental Recall; Middle Aged; Neurology; Neuropsychological Tests; Neurosurgery; Oxygen - blood; precentral gyrus; Prefrontal cortex; Prefrontal Cortex - pathology; Prefrontal Cortex - surgery; Psychomotor Performance - physiology; Scanning; Semantic training; Semantics
• ISSN: 0303-8467; 1872-6968
• DOI: 10.1016/j.clineuro.2012.05.024

Abstract Objective Memory deficit is a frequent cognitive disorder following acquired prefrontal cortex lesions. In the present study, we investigated the brain correlates of a short semantic strategy training and memory performance of patients with distinct prefrontal cortex lesions using fMRI and cognitive tests. Methods Twenty-one adult patients with post-acute prefrontal cortex (PFC) lesions, twelve with left dorsolateral PFC (LPFC) and nine with bilateral orbitofrontal cortex (BOFC) were assessed before and after a short cognitive semantic training using a verbal memory encoding paradigm during scanning and neuropsychological tests outside the scanner. Results After the semantic strategy training both groups of patients showed significant behavioral improvement in verbal memory recall and use of semantic strategies. In the LPFC group, greater activity in left inferior and medial frontal gyrus, precentral gyrus and insula was found after training. For the BOFC group, a greater activation was found in the left parietal cortex, right cingulated and precuneus after training. Conclusion The activation of these specific areas in the memory and executive networks following cognitive training was associated to compensatory brain mechanisms and application of the semantic strategy.