Impact of working memory training on brain network plasticity and genetic associations: insights from individual differences

Abstract

Considerable individual differences in learning ability have long been recognized, yet cognitive learning studies traditionally emphasized group averages while overlooking individual differences. We conducted intersubject similarity of functional connectivity analysis on a month-long randomized controlled trial dataset. Subjects in the training group, together with an additional 66 subjects undergoing the same training, were included to examine the correlations between intersubject similarity of functional connectivity and the intersubject similarity of single nucleotide polymorphisms related to mental disorders (schizophrenia, attention-deficient hyperactivity disorder, and autism spectrum disorder). We also used the Allen Human Brain Atlas to investigate genetic correlations at the gene expression level. Training increased the intersubject similarity of functional connectivity of some brain networks (especially the limbic network-frontoparietal network) across the resting and task states. Furthermore, the change in the intersubject similarity of functional connectivity of the limbic network-frontoparietal network after training seems to have a different genetic basis from its intersubject similarity of functional connectivity at baseline. Allen Human Brain Atlas analysis on the limbic network-frontoparietal network indicated correlations at baseline functional connectivity weights functional connectivity. Working memory training resulted in specific brain changes that differed among individuals, which may be partially due to genetics, especially concerning single nucleotide polymorphisms related to schizophrenia. Our findings emphasize the need to consider individual genetic backgrounds in personalized cognitive training.

Keywords: brain network; intersubject similarity; neuroplasticity; working memory training.