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Updated: Jun 13, 2026
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Working Memory Training for Older Participants: A Control Group Training Regimen and Initial Intellectual Functioning Assessment
Published on: September 20, 2020
Difficulties in working memory updating in individuals with intellectual disability
B Carretti1, C Belacchi, C Cornoldi
1Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, Italy. barbara.carretti@unipd.it
Summary
Working memory (WM) updating is crucial for fluid intelligence. This study shows WM updating significantly differentiates individuals with intellectual disability (ID) from typically developing children, highlighting its importance in cognitive assessment.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Background:
- Working memory (WM) updating is vital for executive functions and fluid intelligence.
- Its specific role in intellectual disability (ID) and its relation to other WM functions remain underexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of WM updating in fluid intelligence among individuals with ID.
- To compare WM updating abilities between individuals with ID and typically developing children matched for fluid intelligence.
Main Methods:
- A battery of WM tasks, including a specific updating task, was administered.
- Participants included individuals with ID and typically developing children matched on fluid intelligence (Raven test).
Main Results:
- WM updating and complex span tasks significantly differentiated between the ID and typically developing groups.
- The updating task demonstrated the highest discriminative power between the groups.
Conclusions:
- Active attentional control in WM is key to understanding its role in fluid intelligence.
- WM updating is a critical factor distinguishing individuals with ID from their typically developing peers.
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