Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 7, 2026
08:05
A Prediction Error-driven Retrieval Procedure for Destabilizing and Rewriting Maladaptive Reward Memories in Hazardous Drinkers
Published on: January 5, 2018
Remember the future: working memory training decreases delay discounting among stimulant addicts
Warren K Bickel1, Richard Yi, Reid D Landes
1Department of Psychiatry, Center for Addiction Research, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA. wbickel@uams.edu
Biological Psychiatry
|October 23, 2010
Summary
Working memory training significantly reduced excessive future reward discounting in adults with stimulant use disorder. This neurocognitive intervention improved delay discounting, highlighting a link between memory and decision-making.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Psychology
- Behavioral Economics
Background:
- Excessive discounting of future rewards is linked to various disorders and past event valuation/memory.
- Understanding the relationship between memory and reward discounting is crucial for therapeutic interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if working memory training can decrease delay discounting in adults undergoing treatment for stimulant use.
- To explore the functional relationship between working memory capacity and future reward valuation.
Main Methods:
- 27 adults in stimulant use treatment were randomized to working memory or control training.
- A yoked experimental design was employed for training protocols.
- Delay discounting and other cognitive behaviors were assessed before and after the intervention.
Main Results:
- Working memory training significantly reduced rates of delay discounting.
- Control training did not affect delay discounting rates.
- Discount rates positively correlated with working memory training performance.
Conclusions:
- This study is the first to demonstrate that neurocognitive training of working memory decreases delay discounting.
- Results provide evidence for a functional link between working memory and delay discounting behavior.
- Findings suggest potential for cognitive training interventions in addressing reward processing deficits.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. It affects approximately 5-8% of children globally, with around 60-70% of cases persisting into adulthood. ADHD has significant implications for educational attainment, social interactions, and occupational success.
Diagnostic Criteria and Symptoms
To diagnose ADHD, symptoms must manifest before age 12 and be evident across multiple settings.
Diagnostic Criteria and Symptoms
To diagnose ADHD, symptoms must manifest before age 12 and be evident across multiple settings.
01:29Stimulants
Stimulants are substances that enhance neural activity and elevate dopamine levels in the brain, leading to their highly addictive nature. These drugs include cocaine, amphetamines, MDMA, caffeine, and nicotine, each with distinct mechanisms of action and varied health implications.
Cocaine can be administered via snorting, injection, or smoking. It primarily functions by blocking the reuptake of dopamine, resulting in a euphoric high characterized by an intense sensation of happiness and...
Cocaine can be administered via snorting, injection, or smoking. It primarily functions by blocking the reuptake of dopamine, resulting in a euphoric high characterized by an intense sensation of happiness and...
01:30Cognitive Enhancers: Cholinesterase Inhibitors and NMDA Receptor Antagonists
Cognitive enhancers, also known as "smart drugs," are substances used to enhance memory, mental alertness, and concentration. These can be natural or synthetic and improve cognition in conditions like Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative diseases. Some common examples include caffeine, amphetamines, methylphenidate, modafinil, arecoline, donepezil, vortioxetine, and piracetam. These enhancers work on the principle of synaptic plasticity and altered circuit function. They...
01:24Working Memory
Working memory refers to a combination of components, including short-term memory and attention, that allow an individual to hold information temporarily as we perform cognitive tasks. It is an essential cognitive function that enables the execution of complex tasks such as problem-solving, comprehension, and reasoning. Unlike short-term memory, which simply involves the storage of information for a brief period, working memory involves the active manipulation and processing of this information.
01:24CNS Stimulants: Cocaine, Amphetamines and Cannabinoids
CNS stimulants, such as cocaine, amphetamines, and cannabinoids, have varying structures and mechanisms of action that lead to different therapeutic effects and side effects. Cocaine, with its molecular formula C17H21NO4, is a tropane alkaloid and a tertiary amino compound. It has two chemical forms: the hydrochloride salt and the "freebase." The former is in powder form, while the latter involves removing the hydrochloride salt to create a form that can be smoked. Cocaine exerts its effects by...