Fig. 1

Experimental protocol. The figure shows the protocol of n-back task used in this study. To detect the activated brain regions associated with the visuospatial n-back task, we used a blocked design fMRI, alternating n-back task conditions and rest conditions. In n-back task conditions, the white square was presented for 2 s at random in 1 of 8 possible locations on screen (exposure time), and black screen was presented for 1 s after the presentation of stimuli (interstimuli interval). Therefore, the consecutive stimuli were presented every 3 s. In the 0-back test, the subjects were instructed to press the left button with their index finger when the white square was presented in predetermined locations. They were instructed to press the right button when the stimulus appeared in any other location. In the 1-back test, the subjects were instructed to press the left button when the stimulus presented in the same location as the previous one. In the 2-back test, they were instructed to press the left button whenever a stimulus was presented in the same location as the two trials previous. When the stimulus was presented in any other location during the 1-back and 2-back test, the patients were instructed to press the right button with the middle finger