Resting-state Functional Connectivity Between the Cerebellum and Cortical Networks: Individual Differences in Verbal Working Memory

Verbal working memory (VWM) is a system that allows the short-term storage of verbal information. It varies widely among individuals and declines with age. Previous neuroimaging studies have provided extensive evidence that the cerebellum is involved in VWM. Specifically, using task-based functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), two cerebro-cerebellar circuits of VWM were identified, frontal-superior cerebellum and parietal-inferior cerebellum. However, the intrinsic cerebellar connectivity and its effect on VWM is still unclear. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to examine how resting-state functional connectivity between the cerebellum and cortical networks is associated with the individual differences in VWM performance among younger adults, and identify the neural predictors of successful VWM maintenance in older adults. A total of 11 younger adults and 12 older adults underwent resting-state fMRI. Their VWM capacity was measured by a reading span task. We compared the magnitudes of resting-state functional connectivity of the cerebellum with cerebral cortical networks between younger and older adults and related the magnitudes to their scores in the reading span task. Findings of this research will advance our understanding of the cerebellar contribution to VWM and the cerebro-cerebellar functional connectivity.