Journal of Case Reports and Reviews in Medicine (ISSN: 3069-0749)
Research Article Volume: 2 & Issue: 2
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.