Research
EEG correlates of verbal and nonverbal working memory
1 Volen Center for Complex Systems, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, 02454, USA
2 Department of Psychology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
Behavioral and Brain Functions 2005, 1:20 doi:10.1186/1744-9081-1-20
Published: 15 November 2005Abstract
Background
Distinct cognitive processes support verbal and nonverbal working memory, with verbal memory depending specifically on the subvocal rehearsal of items.
Methods
We recorded scalp EEG while subjects performed a Sternberg task. In each trial, subjects judged whether a probe item was one of the three items in a study list. Lists were composed of stimuli from one of five pools whose items either were verbally rehearsable (letters, words, pictures of common objects) or resistant to verbal rehearsal (sinusoidal grating patterns, single dot locations).
Results
We found oscillatory correlates unique to verbal stimuli in the θ (4–8 Hz), α (9–12 Hz), β (14–28 Hz), and γ (30–50 Hz) frequency bands. Verbal stimuli generally elicited greater power than did nonverbal stimuli. Enhanced verbal power was found bilaterally in the θ band, over frontal and occipital areas in the α and β bands, and centrally in the γ band. When we looked specifically for cases where oscillatory power in the time interval between item presentations was greater than oscillatory power during item presentation, we found enhanced β activity in the frontal and occipital regions.
Conclusion
These results implicate stimulus-induced oscillatory activity in verbal working memory and β activity in the process of subvocal rehearsal.
