Metabolic connectivity as index of verbal working memory

J Cereb Blood Flow Metab. 2015 Jul;35(7):1122-6. doi: 10.1038/jcbfm.2015.40. Epub 2015 Mar 18.

Abstract

Positron emission tomography (PET) data are commonly analyzed in terms of regional intensity, while covariant information is not taken into account. Here, we searched for network correlates of healthy cognitive function in resting state PET data. PET with [(18)F]-fluorodeoxyglucose and a test of verbal working memory (WM) were administered to 35 young healthy adults. Metabolic connectivity was modeled at a group level using sparse inverse covariance estimation. Among 13 WM-relevant Brodmann areas (BAs), 6 appeared to be robustly connected. Connectivity within this network was significantly stronger in subjects with above-median WM performance. In respect to regional intensity, i.e., metabolism, no difference between groups was found. The results encourage examination of covariant patterns in FDG-PET data from non-neurodegenerative populations.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Brain / anatomy & histology*
  • Brain / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 / analysis
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Memory, Short-Term*
  • Models, Anatomic
  • Nerve Net / anatomy & histology*
  • Nerve Net / metabolism*
  • Positron-Emission Tomography / methods
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18