White noise improves learning by modulating activity in dopaminergic midbrain regions and right superior temporal sulcus
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White noise improves learning by modulating activity in dopaminergic midbrain regions and right superior temporal sulcus. / Rausch, Vanessa H; Bauch, Eva M; Bunzeck, Nico.
in: J COGNITIVE NEUROSCI, Jahrgang 26, Nr. 7, 01.07.2014, S. 1469-1480.Publikationen: SCORING: Beitrag in Fachzeitschrift/Zeitung › SCORING: Zeitschriftenaufsatz › Forschung › Begutachtung
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TY - JOUR
T1 - White noise improves learning by modulating activity in dopaminergic midbrain regions and right superior temporal sulcus
AU - Rausch, Vanessa H
AU - Bauch, Eva M
AU - Bunzeck, Nico
PY - 2014/7/1
Y1 - 2014/7/1
N2 - In neural systems, information processing can be facilitated by adding an optimal level of white noise. Although this phenomenon, the so-called stochastic resonance, has traditionally been linked with perception, recent evidence indicates that white noise may also exert positive effects on cognitive functions, such as learning and memory. The underlying neural mechanisms, however, remain unclear. Here, on the basis of recent theories, we tested the hypothesis that auditory white noise, when presented during the encoding of scene images, enhances subsequent recognition memory performance and modulates activity within the dopaminergic midbrain (i.e., substantia nigra/ventral tegmental area, SN/VTA). Indeed, in a behavioral experiment, we can show in healthy humans that auditory white noise-but not control sounds, such as a sinus tone-slightly improves recognition memory. In an fMRI experiment, white noise selectively enhances stimulus-driven phasic activity in the SN/VTA and auditory cortex. Moreover, it induces stronger connectivity between SN/VTA and right STS, which, in addition, exhibited a positive correlation with subsequent memory improvement by white noise. Our results suggest that the beneficial effects of auditory white noise on learning depend on dopaminergic neuromodulation and enhanced connectivity between midbrain regions and the STS-a key player in attention modulation. Moreover, they indicate that white noise could be particularly useful to facilitate learning in conditions where changes of the mesolimbic system are causally related to memory deficits including healthy and pathological aging.
AB - In neural systems, information processing can be facilitated by adding an optimal level of white noise. Although this phenomenon, the so-called stochastic resonance, has traditionally been linked with perception, recent evidence indicates that white noise may also exert positive effects on cognitive functions, such as learning and memory. The underlying neural mechanisms, however, remain unclear. Here, on the basis of recent theories, we tested the hypothesis that auditory white noise, when presented during the encoding of scene images, enhances subsequent recognition memory performance and modulates activity within the dopaminergic midbrain (i.e., substantia nigra/ventral tegmental area, SN/VTA). Indeed, in a behavioral experiment, we can show in healthy humans that auditory white noise-but not control sounds, such as a sinus tone-slightly improves recognition memory. In an fMRI experiment, white noise selectively enhances stimulus-driven phasic activity in the SN/VTA and auditory cortex. Moreover, it induces stronger connectivity between SN/VTA and right STS, which, in addition, exhibited a positive correlation with subsequent memory improvement by white noise. Our results suggest that the beneficial effects of auditory white noise on learning depend on dopaminergic neuromodulation and enhanced connectivity between midbrain regions and the STS-a key player in attention modulation. Moreover, they indicate that white noise could be particularly useful to facilitate learning in conditions where changes of the mesolimbic system are causally related to memory deficits including healthy and pathological aging.
KW - Acoustic Stimulation
KW - Adult
KW - Brain Mapping
KW - Dopamine
KW - Female
KW - Humans
KW - Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
KW - Learning
KW - Magnetic Resonance Imaging
KW - Male
KW - Mental Recall
KW - Mesencephalon
KW - Noise
KW - Oxygen
KW - Psychomotor Performance
KW - Reaction Time
KW - Recognition (Psychology)
KW - Temporal Lobe
KW - Young Adult
U2 - 10.1162/jocn_a_00537
DO - 10.1162/jocn_a_00537
M3 - SCORING: Journal article
C2 - 24345178
VL - 26
SP - 1469
EP - 1480
JO - J COGNITIVE NEUROSCI
JF - J COGNITIVE NEUROSCI
SN - 0898-929X
IS - 7
ER -