Why n-back might make us recall our dreams (or have lucid dreams).
Pontus Granström
The task is well-established and has been used extensively
to assess working memory in both healthy [31] and clinical populations
[32]. In a typical n-back task, participants are shown a series
of stimuli (e.g., letters) one at a time and are asked to press a
button when the current stimulus matches a stimulus that occurred
n trials before. For example, in a 2-back condition, participants
would press a button when they see the second Q in the
series Q-F-Q. As the load factor (n) increases, so does task difficulty.
Proficient performance in the more demanding conditions (e.g., 2-
back or 3-back) requires that participants continually monitor and
update working memory. Such conditions are typically contrasted
with one or more less demanding conditions (e.g., 0-back or 1-
back).
A recent meta-analysis by Owen et al. [31] of 24 n-back neuroimaging
studies confirms that the PFC is consistently activated
during n-back performance. Further, the magnitude of activation
in the DLPFC appears to increase as a function of the working
memory load [33]. Impaired n-back performance has also been
documented in patients with schizophrenia [32], obsessive–compulsive
disorder [34], attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
[35], and other conditions associated with PFC dysfunction.
I later read on wikipedia that DLPFC is the only part of the brain that is active during REM-sleep (when we dream).
Is the increased activity caused by n-back the reason behind the ability to recall dreams? Wouldn't be that hard to believe.
Vassilis P
is any research on lucid dreaming and intelligence.
On Tue, Nov 23, 2010 at 12:02 AM, likeprestige <plast...@live.com.au> wrote:
> I don't know, but it seems plausible.
>
> Thanks Pontus,
>
> likeprestige
>
> On Nov 23, 4:50 am, Pontus Granström <lepon...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> I browsed through some n-back studies and found this:
>>
>> The task is well-established and has been used extensively
>> to assess working memory in both healthy [31] and clinical populations
>> [32]. In a typical n-back task, participants are shown a series
>> of stimuli (e.g., letters) one at a time and are asked to press a
>> button when the current stimulus matches a stimulus that occurred
>> n trials before. For example, in a 2-back condition, participants
>> would press a button when they see the second Q in the
>> series Q-F-Q. As the load factor (n) increases, so does task difficulty.
>> Proficient performance in the more demanding conditions (e.g., 2-
>> back or 3-back) requires that participants continually monitor and
>> update working memory. Such conditions are typically contrasted
>> with one or more less demanding conditions (e.g., 0-back or 1-
>> back).
>>
>> A* recent meta-analysis by Owen et al. [31] of 24 n-back neuroimaging
>> studies confirms that the PFC is consistently activated
>> during n-back performance. **Further, the magnitude of activation
>> in the DLPFC appears to increase as a function of the working
>> memory load [33]. *Impaired n-back performance has also been
>> documented in patients with schizophrenia [32], obsessive–compulsive
>> disorder [34], attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
>> [35], and other conditions associated with PFC dysfunction.
>>
>> I later read on wikipedia that DLPFC is the only part of the brain that is
>> active during REM-sleep (when we dream).
>>
>> Is the increased activity caused by n-back the reason behind the ability to
>> recall dreams? Wouldn't be that hard to believe.
>
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Gwern Branwen
This makes perfect sense to me given what I previously posted on the
correlation between being able to lucid dream (= recognize & remember
dreams and dreamsigns):
http://groups.google.com/group/brain-training/browse_frm/thread/3de2bf7a8e70949c/e1e384104b478d00
--
gwern
http://www.gwern.net