Articles tagged with Working Memory
Researchers at Brandeis University have discovered an abnormality in the schizophrenic brain that may be responsible for its wide-ranging symptoms. Abnormal neural oscillations, or delta waves, have been linked to cognitive deficits such as memory impairment in patients with schizophrenia.
A recent study found that women are at a higher risk of persistent memory impairment after a concussion, with brain scans revealing reduced activation in working memory circuits. The study's findings suggest that female gender may be a risk factor for working memory impairment after mild traumatic brain injury.
A Penn Medicine study suggests that disruptions in brain memory-related activity after quitting can identify smokers at risk of relapsing. Smokers who failed to quit had decreased activity in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and reduced suppression of activation in the posterior cingulate cortex, indicating a higher chance of re...
A study by Kessler Foundation researchers found that working memory capacity may mediate the relationship between cognitive reserve and long-term memory in individuals with moderate to severe TBI. Cognitive reserve theory suggests that higher intellectual enrichment can confer a protective effect on long-term memory.
A study published in the Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that adding one gram of turmeric to breakfast improved working memory in older adults with pre-diabetes. The spice's active compound, curcumin, has been shown to reduce the risk of dementia and improve cognitive function.
A study published in PLOS ONE found that a kindergarten program focused on executive functions improved academic learning and reduced achievement gaps. The program, Tools of the Mind, was shown to enhance working memory, attention control, and socio-dramatic play skills, leading to better reading and vocabulary results in first grade.
A new study from Brown University pinpoints working memory as a source of learning difficulties in people with schizophrenia. Researchers found that only working memory was impaired in individuals with the condition, highlighting its unique role in making learning more challenging.
A study led by Atika Khurana found that adolescents with strong working memory are less likely to engage in impulsive drug-use behaviors. Weaknesses in executive functioning often underlie self-control issues in children as young as 3 years old, making targeted interventions crucial for early prevention.
Researchers at Kessler Foundation found that working memory capacity explains the relationship between intellectual enrichment and long-term memory in individuals with MS. This suggests that interventions targeting working memory may help build cognitive reserve to protect against decline in long-term memory.
Researchers found that schizophrenia patients exhibit altered brain activity in the ventro-lateral prefrontal cortex, leading to impaired ability to control working memory. This deficit is characterized by increased activation of irrelevant information, hindering cognitive function.
Working memory skills in children are linked strongly to reading and academic achievement. The study found that a child's ability to hold and work with information predicted success in all aspects of learning, regardless of IQ or socio-economic status.
A new study from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine found that lisdexamfetamine can improve executive function domains in post-menopausal women, including organization, working memory, and recall. The study enrolled 30 women between 48-60 years old with diminished ability to focus and multi-task during early menopause.
A longitudinal study found that working memory differences existing at age 10 persist through adolescence, with parents' education being a significant predictor. Neighborhood characteristics were not related to working memory performance.
Scientists at RIKEN-MIT Center for Neural Circuit Genetics identified gamma oscillations as the key brain signal underlying memory transfer and corrective action. They found that mice made mistakes and then corrected them, triggering a burst of gamma waves that enabled working memory recall.
A new study by IU cognitive scientists Catarina Vales and Linda Smith demonstrates that children spot objects more quickly when prompted by words than if they are only prompted by images. The study suggests that language is transformative, enhancing children's ability to learn and navigate cluttered environments.
Researchers have created a system of extremely simple robots that can cluster together without requiring complex computation. This development enables the creation of large numbers of robots to perform tasks collectively, with potential applications in precision farming and healthcare technologies. The robots use minimal information an...
A new study by Brigham Young University researchers has linked lingering brain injury from head trauma to social difficulties in children. The study found that the thickness of a specific brain region was associated with a child's social life and thinking skills.
Researchers found that green tea extract increases brain connectivity and improves working memory performance. The study suggests potential clinical applications for treating cognitive impairments in neuropsychiatric disorders like dementia.
Researchers found that individuals with high rates of future discounting showed significant reductions in substance use after treatment, suggesting that prioritizing instant gratification may be a hallmark of recovery. A simple cognitive test measuring present-moment bias could help personalize addiction treatments.
Researchers at Brown University discovered that working memory uses similar brain circuits to those involved in planning motion. They found that the caudate and dorsal anterior premotor cortex contribute to output gating, a crucial process for selecting from working memory. The study's findings provide insight into how the brain effici...
A study published in Neuron reveals a connection between genes controlling neuronal excitability and working memory, psychiatric disease, and brain activity. The researchers identified a network of genes that plays a crucial role in human brain function, highlighting the importance of understanding its dysfunction in schizophrenia.
A study by New York University researchers shows that the capacity of working memory is better explained by the quality of memories stored rather than their number. The analysis of over 130,000 subject responses found that memory performance decreased with an increase in recalled information.
A study found that assessing brain structure and function can predict future working memory performance in healthy children and adolescents, suggesting a possible early warning system for developmental challenges.
A research team led by Mathew Diamond found that rats have a 'working memory' system, conceptually similar to humans', which enables them to recognize and interact with environmental stimuli.
Researchers found that younger adults outperform older adults in visual working memory tasks, with a higher capacity for 'high definition' recall. This suggests that while older adults may store similar amounts of information, their memories are less detailed and impaired in recollection.
A study by researchers from the University of Basel found that individuals with high motor excitability have better working memory than those with low excitability. The research used transcranial magnetic stimulation to measure motor cortical excitability and its correlation with working memory performance, revealing a positive correla...
A Mount Sinai study found that age-related cognitive decline is linked to energy in synapses in the prefrontal cortex. Estrogen treatment restored synaptic health and improved working memory in rhesus monkeys.
Research confirms GWI deficits in working memory, a critical cognitive function that enables short-term retention of information. Brain alterations reveal a unique neurobiological marker that could positively identify GWI, with potential implications for Alzheimer's disease treatment.
A Dartmouth study reveals that rural low-income children score lower on visual working memory tests, while urban counterparts perform slightly better. The research highlights a gap between verbal and visual working memories of children living in rural poverty.
New research suggests that brain training programs strengthen working memory capacity but do not improve general fluid intelligence. The study found that students who trained on complex span tasks showed transfer to other working memory tasks, but none of the groups showed benefits on measures of fluid intelligence.
A study published in Journal of Neurotrauma found that traumatic brain injury during childhood can cause significant deficits in working memory. The authors propose identifying neuroanatomical biomarkers to detect early signs of impaired working memory.
Researchers found that people with primary insomnia have difficulty modulating brain regions used for working memory, leading to decreased efficiency during the day. The study provides a biological marker for treatment success and sheds light on the daytime problems associated with insomnia.
Researchers used fNIRS to study 3- and 4-year-old children's visual working memory, finding that neural activity in the right frontal cortex is linked to higher capacity, while 4-year-olds show increased use of the parietal cortex for spatial attention. The findings could help detect childhood disorders like ADHD and autism earlier.
A new study found that training individuals on a working-memory task can improve their performance on various cognitive tasks, including problem-solving and attentional control. The training exercise increased connectivity between specific brain areas, particularly the parietal and frontal brain regions.
Researchers at the University of Missouri found that propranolol improves working memory performance in people with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The study showed significant improvements in working memory abilities, particularly in those who already take the medication for anxiety.
A study by UC Santa Barbara researchers found that mindfulness training can significantly improve reading comprehension, working memory capacity, and ability to focus. The results suggest that mindfulness can reduce mind-wandering and improve performance in tasks requiring attention.
A new study finds that brief mindfulness training can improve standardized test scores and working memory capacity by reducing mind wandering. Participants who received mindfulness training showed a significant improvement in accuracy on the GRE and higher working memory capacity compared to those who received nutrition instruction.
Researchers found that repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) improved working memory performance in individuals with schizophrenia, comparable to healthy subjects. The study suggests rTMS as a potential treatment for cognitive deficits in schizophrenia.
A study reveals bilingual children exhibit superior working memory abilities compared to monolingual children. The research suggests that bilingualism enhances global executive function development.
A study found that a biomarker based on brain activity in the visual cortex can predict response to scopolamine, an experimental rapid-acting antidepressant. Patients with depression showed lower visual cortex activity, which correlated with treatment response.
Researchers found that easy mood-boosters like candy helped seniors perform significantly better on tests of decision-making and working memory. The study showed that a good mood can help overcome some cognitive declines with aging, providing good news for older adults.
Aerobic exercise has been shown to improve cognitive function in older adults, including task switching, selective attention, and working memory. The evidence suggests that regular physical activity can attenuate age-related decline in these areas, providing a simple means for people to optimize their brain power.
A new study of eight child prodigies suggests a possible link between their special skills and autism. The prodigies, who scored exceptionally on working memory tests, show elevated autistic traits but lack the typical deficits associated with autism.
Researchers found that synchronized electrical signals between two key hubs in the brain's working memory circuit carry information about short-term visual memories. The study uses synchronized oscillations to distinguish between object identity and location, potentially overturning prevailing theory on how visual information is encoded.
A study by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh found that increasing Omega-3 fatty acid intake improves working memory performance in healthy young adults aged 18-25. The participants showed enhanced cognitive abilities despite already being at their peak cognitive function. The study suggests a potential mechanism for brain en...
A recent study found that a family history of alcoholism may exacerbate the damaging effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on children's neural functioning, particularly in spatial working memory. The research suggests multiple developmental mechanisms, including insult from PAE and functional differences based on FHP, leading to SWM im...
Researchers reviewing Cogmed's claims found limited evidence supporting improved working memory and addressing underachievement. The debate raises concerns about the program's efficacy, sparking a nuanced discussion among experts.
Research at the University of Chicago found that high-achieving students experience math anxiety from an early age, which can disrupt their working memory and negatively impact their math performance. The study suggests that reframing anxiety through writing or expressive picture drawing can help alleviate this effect.
People with Parkinson's disease performed better on a working memory test after a night's sleep, with slow wave sleep linked to improved performance. Sleep disorders can interfere with this benefit, and dopamine-enhancing medications may play a role in memory improvement.
Consuming cocoa flavanol-rich products daily may improve memory and cognition in elderly individuals with mild cognitive impairment. Researchers found significant improvements in cognitive scores, insulin resistance, blood pressure, and oxidative stress for those drinking high and intermediate levels of flavanols.
A new study found that boys are more vulnerable to the negative effects of prenatal exposure to chlorpyrifos, a common insecticide. The research, published in Neurotoxicology and Teratology, also revealed that parental nurturing can improve working memory in both boys and girls.
Research suggests that high working memory capacity enhances performance in mathematical problem-solving by facilitating focused attention. In contrast, excessive focus may hinder creative problem-solving due to the need for novel approaches and diverse information combinations.
Recent studies in Current Directions in Psychological Science investigate the role of retrieval-based learning, attention to information in working memory, accurate personality judgment, and the use of neuroeconomic games to examine social decision making in children with externalizing disorders. These findings provide insights into th...
A meta-analysis of 23 peer-reviewed studies found that working memory training programs have no impact on general cognitive performance or verbal skills. The study suggests that training may help with short-term memory related tasks but has limited effect on individuals with ADHD or other issues.
A new study finds that high resiliency in early adolescence may protect against later alcohol problems and drug use. Resiliency is associated with better working memory performance, which may work through basal ganglia structures of the brain.
Researchers found that older APOE ε4 carriers experience smaller brain volumes and poorer cognitive performance with even minor increases in systolic blood pressure. The study suggests an interaction between genetic and vascular risk factors contributes to age-related decline in brain and cognition.
Research at Northwestern University reveals that bilingualism sharpens the brain's ability to encode basic sound patterns and improve attention. Bilingual speakers outperform monolingual peers in processing complex sounds under noisy conditions.
Researchers from NIST, University of Maryland and Royal Institute of Technology create method to detect defects in magnetic structures as small as a tenth of a micrometer. The technique uses spin waves to nondestructively measure the properties of magnetic materials and search for nanoscale defects.
A new study reveals a correlation between working memory capacity and mind wandering, suggesting that higher working memory resources may enable off-topic thoughts. Working memory capacity has previously been linked to intelligence measures, and the study suggests it plays a role in everyday planning and decision-making.
A new study with monkeys suggests that higher doses of the ADHD medication methylphenidate can impair learning and memory, while lower doses improve performance. The results have implications for finding the optimal dosage for children with ADHD.