Relationships between apparent cortical thickness and working memory across the lifespan - Effects of genetics and socioeconomic status

Stine K. Krogsrud; Athanasia M. Mowinckel; Donatas Sederevicius; Didac Vidal-Piñeiro; Inge K. Amlien; Yunpeng Wang; Øystein Sørensen; Kristine B. Walhovd; Anders M. Fjell

Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience (Oct 2021)

Relationships between apparent cortical thickness and working memory across the lifespan - Effects of genetics and socioeconomic status

Stine K. Krogsrud,
Athanasia M. Mowinckel,
Donatas Sederevicius,
Didac Vidal-Piñeiro,
Inge K. Amlien,
Yunpeng Wang,
Øystein Sørensen,
Kristine B. Walhovd,
Anders M. Fjell

Affiliations

Stine K. Krogsrud: Center for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, 0317, Oslo, Norway
Athanasia M. Mowinckel: Center for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, 0317, Oslo, Norway
Donatas Sederevicius: Center for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, 0317, Oslo, Norway
Didac Vidal-Piñeiro: Center for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, 0317, Oslo, Norway
Inge K. Amlien: Center for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, 0317, Oslo, Norway
Yunpeng Wang: Center for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, 0317, Oslo, Norway
Øystein Sørensen: Center for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, 0317, Oslo, Norway
Kristine B. Walhovd: Center for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, 0317, Oslo, Norway; Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, 0372, Oslo, Norway
Anders M. Fjell: Center for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, 0317, Oslo, Norway; Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, 0372, Oslo, Norway; Corresponding author at: Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, PO Box 1094 Blindern, 0317, Oslo, Norway.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 51
p. 100997

Abstract

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Working memory (WM) supports several higher-level cognitive abilities, yet we know less about factors associated with development and decline in WM compared to other cognitive processes. Here, we investigated lifespan changes in WM capacity and their structural brain correlates, using a longitudinal sample including 2358 magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans and WM scores from 1656 participants (4.4–86.4 years, mean follow-up interval 4.3 years). 8764 participants (9.0–10.9 years) with MRI, WM scores and genetic information from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development study were used for follow-up analyses. Results showed that both the information manipulation component and the storage component of WM improved during childhood and adolescence, but the age-decline could be fully explained by reductions in passive storage capacity alone. Greater WM function in development was related to apparent thinner cortex in both samples, also when general cognitive function was accounted for. The same WM-apparent thickness relationship was found for young adults. The WM-thickness relationships could not be explained by SNP-based co-heritability or by socioeconomic status. A larger sample with genetic information may be necessary to disentangle the true gene-environment effects. In conclusion, WM capacity changes greatly through life and has anatomically extended rather than function-specific structural cortical correlates.

Published in Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience

ISSN: 1878-9293 (Print); 1878-9307 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: Netherlands
LCC subjects: Science: Physiology: Neurophysiology and neuropsychology
Website: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/developmental-cognitive-neuroscience/

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