This pilot study investigates the neurophysiological patterns of visual and auditory verbal working memory (VWM) in unilateral cochlear implant users (UCIs). We compared the task-related electroencephalogram (EEG) power spectral density of 7- to 13-year-old UCIs (n = 7) with a hearing control group (HC, n = 10) during the execution of a three-level n-back task with auditory and visual verbal (letters) stimuli. Performances improved as memory load decreased regardless of sensory modality (SM) and group factors. Theta EEG activation over the frontal area was proportionally influenced by task level; the left hemisphere (LH) showed greater activation in the gamma band, suggesting lateralization of VWM function regardless of SM. However, HCs showed stronger activation patterns in the LH than UCIs regardless of SM and in the parietal area (PA) during the most challenging audio condition. Linear regressions for gamma activation in the PA suggest the presence of a pattern-supporting auditory VWM only in HCs. Our findings seem to recognize gamma activation in the PA as the signature of effective auditory VWM. These results, although preliminary, highlight this EEG pattern as a possible cause of the variability found in VWM outcomes in deaf children, opening up new possibilities for interdisciplinary research and rehabilitation intervention.

Gamma-band modulation in parietal area as the electroencephalographic signature for Performance in auditory–verbal working memory: an exploratory pilot study in hearing and unilateral cochlear implant children / Inguscio, BIANCA MARIA SERENA; Cartocci, Giulia; Sciaraffa, Nicolina; Nicastri, Maria; Giallini, Ilaria; Greco, Antonio; Babiloni, Fabio; Mancini, Patrizia. - In: BRAIN SCIENCES. - ISSN 2076-3425. - 12:12, 1291(2022), pp. 1-21. [10.3390/brainsci12101291]

Gamma-band modulation in parietal area as the electroencephalographic signature for Performance in auditory–verbal working memory: an exploratory pilot study in hearing and unilateral cochlear implant children

Bianca Maria Serena Inguscio
Co-primo
;
Giulia Cartocci
Co-primo
;
Nicolina Sciaraffa;Maria Nicastri;Ilaria Giallini;Antonio Greco;Fabio Babiloni;Patrizia Mancini
Ultimo
2022

Abstract

This pilot study investigates the neurophysiological patterns of visual and auditory verbal working memory (VWM) in unilateral cochlear implant users (UCIs). We compared the task-related electroencephalogram (EEG) power spectral density of 7- to 13-year-old UCIs (n = 7) with a hearing control group (HC, n = 10) during the execution of a three-level n-back task with auditory and visual verbal (letters) stimuli. Performances improved as memory load decreased regardless of sensory modality (SM) and group factors. Theta EEG activation over the frontal area was proportionally influenced by task level; the left hemisphere (LH) showed greater activation in the gamma band, suggesting lateralization of VWM function regardless of SM. However, HCs showed stronger activation patterns in the LH than UCIs regardless of SM and in the parietal area (PA) during the most challenging audio condition. Linear regressions for gamma activation in the PA suggest the presence of a pattern-supporting auditory VWM only in HCs. Our findings seem to recognize gamma activation in the PA as the signature of effective auditory VWM. These results, although preliminary, highlight this EEG pattern as a possible cause of the variability found in VWM outcomes in deaf children, opening up new possibilities for interdisciplinary research and rehabilitation intervention.
2022
working memory; deafness; cochlear implants; children; EEG; gamma; theta; n-back; verbal audio; verbal video
01 Pubblicazione su rivista::01a Articolo in rivista
Gamma-band modulation in parietal area as the electroencephalographic signature for Performance in auditory–verbal working memory: an exploratory pilot study in hearing and unilateral cochlear implant children / Inguscio, BIANCA MARIA SERENA; Cartocci, Giulia; Sciaraffa, Nicolina; Nicastri, Maria; Giallini, Ilaria; Greco, Antonio; Babiloni, Fabio; Mancini, Patrizia. - In: BRAIN SCIENCES. - ISSN 2076-3425. - 12:12, 1291(2022), pp. 1-21. [10.3390/brainsci12101291]
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11573/1655244
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