THE RELATION BETWEEN EVOLUTION OF SPATIAL WORKING MEMORY FUNCTION AND OF MORPHOLOGY OF THE DORSOLATERAL PREFRONTAL CORTEX AMONG THE RHESUS MONKEY, SLOW LORIS AND TREE SHREW

The relation between evolution of spatial working memory function and of morphology of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex among the rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta), the slow loris (Nycticebus coucang) and the tree shrew (Tupaia belangen chinensis) were reported in present paper. The results read as follows: In the DR performance with training, the rhesus monkeys and slow lorises could reach a criterion of 90% correct response at 1.1 ± 3.2 seconds, and 3.8±0.4 seconds delay interval, respectively, by 1000 training trails. The tree shrews failed to reach the criterion of 90% correct response even at 0 seconds delay interval by 1000 training trails. If a delay interval was tested in one session (30 trails) only, doing the DR performamce without training, the rhesus monkeys reached a correct of 80% or higher in each session at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 seconds delay, respectively. The percent correct in each session of the slow lorises showed no differences from the rhesus monkeys at 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 seconds delay. However, when the delay interval was increased to 5 seconds, the percent correct of the DR performance declined to 70% or lower in the slow lorises. In the tree shrews the percent correct in each session reached to 70% or lower at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 seconds delay interval, respectively. The morphological studies revealed that the size of the prefrontal cortex increased, and the structure got complex in the course of the evolution in primates. It is suggested that the relation of evolution between the spatial working memory function and anatomy in the prefrontal cortex might be significant among the three species, both the development of morphology and that of the spatial working memory function in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex are later than other regions of cerebral cortex in phylogenetic evolution course.

Locomotor activity and anxiety status, but not spatial working memory,are affected in mice after brief exposure to cuprizone

Chronic long-term exposure to cuprizone causes severe brain demyelination in mice,which leads to changes in locomotion,working memory and anxiety.These findings suggest the importance of intact myelin for these behaviors.This study aimed to investigate the possible behavioral changes in mice with mild oligodendrocyte/myelin damage that parallels the white matter changes seen in the brains of patients with psychiatric disporders.We used the cuprizonetreated mouse model to test both tissue changes and behavioral functions（locomotor activity,anxiety status,and spatial working memory）.The results showed that mice given cuprizone in their diet for 7 days had no significant myelin breakdown as evaluated by immunohistochemical staining for myelin basic protein,while the number of mature oligodendrocytes was reduced.The number and length of Caspr protein clusters,a structural marker of the node of Ranvier,did not change.The locomotor activity of the cuprizonetreated mice increased whereas their anxiety levels were lower than in normal controls;spatial working memory,however,did not change.These results,for the first time,link emotion-related behavior with mild white matter damage in cuprizone-treated mice.

Effects of grade,academic performance,and sex on spatial working memory and attention in primary school children:a cross-sectional observational study

Objective:Only a few studies have investigated the development trends in spatial working memory and attention among a large sample of primary school students over a wide range of ages,while the efficiency of learning and memory processes is fundamental to academic performance,particularly for children,who are in a key developmental stage when their life opportunities can be altered.We aimed to explore how the spatial working memory and attention of primary school children are affected by grade,academic performance,and sex.Methods:In this cross-sectional observational study,students(144 boys,139 girls,6–13 years old)were recruited from Experimental Primary School Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University in Shanghai,China in 2018.The study protocol was reviewed and approved by the Bio-Ethics Board of the Bio-X Institutes,Shanghai Jiao Tong University.Based on a simple Spatial Working Memory and Attention Test on Paired Symbols test,we evaluate 283 participants’working memory and attention ability.Results:Attention and working memory performance were enhanced as a positive function of grade in primary school children,and students who showed better academic achievement also performed better on the working memory task.However,attention and working memory performance were not affected by sex.Conclusion:Attention and working memory performance of primary school students develop with grade and corresponds to Better academic performance.Attention and working memory ability do not differ significantly between boys and girls.

Brain activation regions in schizophrenia patients performing the game piece memory task

BACKGROUND： Go, a traditional Chinese chess-like game, requires many unknown functions of the brain including attention, imaging, problem solving and processing of spatial working memory. To date, it remains uncertain whether the intellectual activities required to play Go are related to the frontal lobe. OBJECTIVE： To investigate various patterns of brain region activity while schizophrenic patients and normal subjects engaged in memorizing piece placement in the Chinese game of Go. Spatial working memory was measured in order to validate whether the prefrontal lobe participates in this memory process. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： Non-randomized, concurrent control trial was performed at Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, between May and December 2004. PARTICIPANTS： A total of nine Chinese schizophrenic patients with no brain or bodily diseases and not undergoing electroshock treatment, who were in accordance with the DSM-Ⅳ criteria for schizophrenia, as well as thirteen healthy staffs and students with matched age, sex, and education were included. Patients and control subjects had no neurological disorders or mental retardation. In addition, all participants were right-handed. METHODS： The cognitive task for functional magnetic resonance imaging was a block design experiment. Both groups were asked to remember the placement of pieces in the Chinese game of Go on a computer screen. A brain activation map was analyzed in SPM99. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： Brain responses were compared with regard to activation region size, volume, and asymmetry indices. RESULTS： Compared with the control group, the reaction time was significantly delayed in schizophrenics performing the working memory task （P 〈 0.05）. When performing the tasks, normal subjects showed significant activation of the bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal lobe with left dominance; the asymmetry indices were： frontal lobe, ＋0.32; temporal lobe, 0.58; parietal lobe, 0.41 ; and occipital lobe, 0.34. On the other hand, schizophrenics showed right dominance and had a broader activation region of the prefrontal lobe （asymmetry indices： frontal lobe, 0.10; temporal lobe, ＋0.38; parietal lobe, ＋0.24; and occipital lobe, 0.00）. When comparing the normal group subtracted with the schizophrenic group, no significant lateralization was found in the frontal lobes but significant activation was found in the left anterior central gyrus, left middle frontal gyrus and in both sides of the cingulate gyrus. Comparing the schizophrenic group subtracted with the normal group, there was significant right lateralization of the frontal lobe and abnormally activated regions on both sides of the anterior central gyrus, middle frontal gyrus, left inferior frontal gyrus, right medial frontal gyrus and the right insular lobe. CONCLUSION： Different brain activation regions are involved in memorizing the placement of pieces in Chinese Go between schizophrenia and healthy subjects. Schizophrenics showed right dominance and border activation range, indicating that the prefrontal cortex plays an important role in memory information processing and resource allocation when remembering piece placement in the game of Go.