Electric Thoughts: Understanding Cognitive Neuroscience

Nicole Gorra, PhD*

Received : May 19, 2026 | Published : June 12, 2026

Citation: Gorra N. Electric Thoughts: Understanding Cognitive Neuroscience. J Case Rep Rev Med. 2026;2(2):1-4. DOI: 10.64978/jcrrm-0121

Abstract

Working memory and attentional control are core components of higher-order cognition, yet their neural dynamics under varying cognitive load remain incompletely understood. The present study investigated load-dependent changes in brain activation using a modified n-back paradigm during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Forty-eight right-handed adults (ages 18–35; 24 female) completed 0-back, 2-back, and 3-back conditions in a within-subjects design. Task conditions were counterbalanced across participants. Visual alphanumeric stimuli were presented for 500 ms with a 2,500 ms interstimulus interval, and participants responded via button press to indicate target matches. Accuracy and reaction time were recorded as behavioral indices of performance. Neuroimaging data were acquired on a 3T Siemens Prisma scanner using a T2*-weighted echo-planar imaging sequence (TR = 2,000 ms; TE = 30 ms; voxel size = 3 × 3 × 3 mm³), with high-resolution T1-weighted images collected for spatial normalization. This design enables examination of load-dependent modulation of neural systems supporting working memory and attentional control, providing a framework for characterizing the cortical networks engaged as cognitive demands increase.

Keywords: neuroimaging, cognitive neuroscience, working memory, functional connectivity, electroencephalography