Journal article
A problem-solving task specialized for functional neuroimaging: validation of the Scarborough adaptation of the Tower of London (S-TOL) using near-infrared spectroscopy
Frontiers in human neuroscience, v 8, pp 185-185
28 Mar 2014
PMID: 24734017
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Problem-solving is an executive function subserved by a network of neural structures of which the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) is central. Whereas several studies have evaluated the role of the DLPFC in problem-solving, few standardized tasks have been developed specifically for use with functional neuroimaging. The current study adapted a measure with established validity for the assessment of problem-solving abilities to design a test more suitable for functional neuroimaging protocols. The Scarborough adaptation of the Tower of London (S-TOL) was administered to 38 healthy adults while hemodynamic oxygenation of the PFC was measured using 16-channel continuous-wave functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Compared to a baseline condition, problems that required two or three steps to achieve a goal configuration were associated with higher activation in the left DLPFC and deactivation in the medial PFC. Individuals scoring higher in trait deliberation showed consistently higher activation in the left DLPFC regardless of task difficulty, whereas individuals lower in this trait displayed less activation when solving simple problems. Based on these results, the S-TOL may serve as a standardized task to evaluate problem-solving abilities in functional neuroimaging studies.
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Details
- Title
- A problem-solving task specialized for functional neuroimaging: validation of the Scarborough adaptation of the Tower of London (S-TOL) using near-infrared spectroscopy
- Creators
- Anthony C Ruocco - Clinical Neurosciences Laboratory, Department of Psychology, University of Toronto ScarboroughAchala H Rodrigo - Clinical Neurosciences Laboratory, Department of Psychology, University of Toronto ScarboroughJaeger Lam - Clinical Neurosciences Laboratory, Department of Psychology, University of Toronto ScarboroughStefano I Di Domenico - Clinical Neurosciences Laboratory, Department of Psychology, University of Toronto ScarboroughBryanna Graves - Clinical Neurosciences Laboratory, Department of Psychology, University of Toronto ScarboroughHasan Ayaz - School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems, Drexel University
- Publication Details
- Frontiers in human neuroscience, v 8, pp 185-185
- Publisher
- Frontiers Media S.A
- Grant note
- This research was supported by a New Investigator Award (Funding Reference Number: MSH–130177) from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research to Dr. Ruocco. Mr. Rodrigo was supported by an Alexander Graham Bell Canada Graduate Scholarship from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Science, and Health Systems
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000333581200001
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-84897127339
- Other Identifier
- 991014877673804721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Neurosciences
- Psychology