Work

Study on individual differences in visual working memory tasks based on spatiotemporal brain functional metrics and biological perspectives

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Visual working memory (VWM) is a critical area of study in cognitive neuroscience, yet the neural and genetic foundations of individual differences in VWM remain unclear. This study investigates individual differences in VWM performance across four types of visual stimuli (Body, Face, Place, Tool) under 0-back and 2-back conditions by integrating gene expression data and spatiotemporal brain function metrics. First, multiple spatiotemporal brain function metrics were extracted, and Sequential Backward Selection (SBS) and Leave-One-Subject-Out Cross-Validation (LOSO-CV) linear regression were applied to predict behavioral performance under VWM conditions. Model performance was evaluated using RMSE. Next, the Working Memory Individual Differences Map (WMIDM) was constructed based on Pearson correlation coefficients between actual and predicted behavioral performance. Finally, WMIDM was integrated with Allen Human Brain Atlas (AHBA) gene expression data to explore its genetic underpinnings. Notably, the gene analysis is exploratory, providing a preliminary framework for future investigations into the molecular basis of working memory. The results demonstrated that under the 2 vs. 0-back condition, spatiotemporal metrics outperformed static metrics ( r spa = 0 . 40 , q = 8 . 9 × 1 0 − 28 , RMSE = 0 . 928 vs. r sta = 0 . 28 , q = 2 . 7 × 1 0 − 14 , RMSE = 0 . 966 ). Brain regions contributing to the WMIDM were primarily located in the frontal lobe. Furthermore, genes associated with WMIDM were significantly enriched in pathways linked to intellectual disability and mental disorders, as well as related biological processes and cell types. This study highlights the neural and potential genetic foundations of individual differences in working memory through the lens of spatiotemporal multidimensional brain function and gene expression. These findings provide valuable insights for future neuroscience research and pave the way for personalized cognitive interventions. • Integrated spatiotemporal metrics to reveal individual differences in VWM. • Constructed a working memory individual differences map primarily represented by the frontal lobe. • Revealed correlations between gene expression (e.g., ZFHX2 , DRD2 ) and individual difference in VWM. • Exploratory gene analysis links WMIDM-related genes to intelligence disorders and synaptic organization.

Source: NeuroImage

DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2025.121220

Authors: Ronglong Xiong, Qiuzhu Zhang, Junjun Zhang, Zhenlan Jin, Ling Li

Institution: University of Electronic Science and Technology of China

Language: English

Topic: Cognitive Abilities and Testing

Subfield: Experimental and Cognitive Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,540