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Khat use is associated with impaired working memory and cognitive flexibility
Lorenza S Colzato1, Manuel J Ruiz, Wery P M van den Wildenberg
1Institute for Psychological Research and Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands. colzato@fsw.leidenuniv.nl
Plos One
|June 24, 2011
Summary
Khat use negatively impacts cognitive control, specifically impairing working memory (WM) and cognitive flexibility. This suggests potential difficulties in daily activities requiring rapid, flexible behavioral adjustments.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychology
- Global Health
Background:
- Khat consumption is a growing global concern, particularly in Eastern Africa and diaspora communities worldwide.
- The impact of khat use on cognitive functions, especially cognitive control, remains poorly understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between khat use and cognitive control functions.
- Specifically examining effects on working memory (WM) and cognitive flexibility.
Main Methods:
- Matched groups of khat users and khat-free controls were compared.
- Cognitive flexibility assessed using a Global-Local task.
- Working memory (WM) capacity evaluated with an N-back task.
Main Results:
- Khat users demonstrated significantly poorer performance on cognitive flexibility tasks.
- Khat users also showed deficits in monitoring information within working memory (WM).
Conclusions:
- Khat use is associated with impairments in cognitive flexibility.
- Khat consumption negatively affects the updating and monitoring of information in working memory (WM).
- These cognitive deficits may have significant implications for daily functioning and behavior regulation.
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