Working memory (WM) function has traditionally been investigated in terms of two
dimensions: within-individual effects of WM load, and between-individual differences in task
performance. In human neuroimaging studies, the N-back task has frequently been used to
study both. A reliable finding is that activation in frontoparietal regions exhibits an inverted-U
pattern, such that activity tends to decrease at high load levels. Yet it is not known whether
such U-shaped patterns are a key individual differences factor that can predict load-related�…