Figure 1.

Configural working memory task (cWMT) procedure. Each subject performed the cWMT four times in the MRI scanner. Each task block lasted one minute. A rest block (a) was conducted immediately before and after each run of the three task blocks, during which subjects were instructed to keep their eyes fixed on the cross and let their minds rest. During the memorization block (b), subjects were shown four cards for four seconds each with one second between card presentations; these four cards were then repeated twice more, for twelve total presentations. Subjects pressed the button box in their hand corresponding to the “NEW” icon to indicate that it was the first time observing this card, or pressed the button in their other hand corresponding to the “OLD” icon to indicate that the card had been shown before. During the remember block (c), subjects were instructed to fix their eyes on the cross and keep the previously memorized cards in their mind. During the test block (d), subjects were shown twelve different cards, four of which were the previously memorized cards. Similar to the memorize block, subjects indicated via button press if the card had been shown previously.