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Working memory processing and phonological awareness: An fMRI study

H. Beneventi , F. E Toennessen , R. Barndon L. Ersland , and K. Hugdahl ,

(1) University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway, (2) Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway, (3) Centre for reading reasearch, Stavanger, Norway harald.beneventi@psych.uib.no

Abstract

Learning to read and phonological skills are closely related. Phonological processing has been associated with activations in both the inferior prefrontal cortex and the supramarginal gyrus. However, phonological tasks differ in their levels of processing (awareness of small vs. large phonological units) and their recruitment of cognitive processes vary, e.g. verbal working memory processes. Thus, it is unclear whether the activations in these regions can be attributed purely to phonological processes. The aim of the present study was to compare effects of phoneme and rime awareness in a verbal working memory task. The results indicate that verbal working memory processing activates areas in prefrontal cortex and parietal lobe independently of different additional phonological processing. Further, the supramarginal gyrus appears more sensitive to phoneme awareness whereas the posterior middle temporal gyrus appears more sensitive to rime awareness.

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