Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
Department of Neurology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
Neurobiol Learn Mem. 2022 Dec;196:107696. doi: 10.1016/j.nlm.2022.107696. Epub 2022 Nov 8.
Experience-dependent modulation of the visual evoked potential (VEP) has emerged as a promising non-invasive proxy for assaying long term potentiation (LTP)-like plasticity in the cerebral cortex. LTP is considered the principal candidate mechanism underlying learning and memory. There is, however, a paucity of evidence exploring associations between LTP-like plasticity and performance-based learning and memory. The present study aimed to explore the relationship between VEP-plasticity and higher-order learning and memory in healthy adults.
Visual and verbal learning and memory was assessed using the Aggie Figures Learning Test (AFLT) and the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT). The study included 111 healthy adults (61.1% females; mean age 37.6 years, range 17-71) who underwent a VEP paradigm employing visual high-frequency stimulation to induce a change in visual evoked responses recorded by scalp EEG. In addition, a more comprehensive neuropsychological assessment was administered.
Several significant moderate age-corrected positive correlations were found between modulation of the later VEP components (N1 and P1-N1 peak-to-peak) and both visual and verbal learning and memory performance. Further, there were significant differences in learning and memory performance between participants showing a higher degree of modulation (>1 SD above mean) compared to participants showing a lower degree of modulation. No significant associations were found between VEP-plasticity and other neurocognitive domains.
The current results suggest that LTP-like plasticity indexed by VEP modulation reflect processes specific to learning and memory. Future research is needed to further delineate the complex relationship between neural plasticity and learning and memory, specifically concerning possible clinical implications in populations with deficits in learning and memory function.
视觉诱发电位（VEP）的经验依赖性调制已成为一种有前途的非侵入性替代方法，可用于检测大脑皮层中的长时程增强（LTP）样可塑性。LTP 被认为是学习和记忆的主要候选机制。然而，探索 LTP 样可塑性与基于表现的学习和记忆之间的关联的证据很少。本研究旨在探索健康成年人中 VEP 可塑性与高阶学习和记忆之间的关系。
使用 Aggie 图形学习测试（AFLT）和 Rey 听觉言语学习测试（RAVLT）评估视觉和言语学习和记忆。该研究包括 111 名健康成年人（61.1%女性；平均年龄 37.6 岁，范围 17-71 岁），他们接受了视觉高频刺激的 VEP 范式，以诱导头皮 EEG 记录的视觉诱发电响应的变化。此外，还进行了更全面的神经心理学评估。
在后期 VEP 成分（N1 和 P1-N1 峰峰值）的调制与视觉和言语学习和记忆表现之间发现了几个显著的中度年龄校正正相关。此外，在表现出更高程度调制（高于平均值 1 个标准差以上）的参与者与表现出较低程度调制的参与者之间，学习和记忆表现存在显著差异。VEP 可塑性与其他神经认知领域之间没有显著关联。
目前的结果表明，VEP 调制所指示的 LTP 样可塑性反映了学习和记忆特有的过程。需要进一步研究来进一步阐明神经可塑性与学习和记忆之间的复杂关系，特别是在学习和记忆功能缺陷的人群中可能存在的临床意义。
