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Working Memory Training for Older Participants: A Control Group Training Regimen and Initial Intellectual Functioning Assessment

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The Effect of an Executive Functioning Training Program on Working Memory Capacity and Intrusive Thoughts.

Jessica Bomyea¹, Nader Amir

¹Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, 8939 Villa Jolla Dr. Suite 200, San Diego, CA 92037, USA.

Cognitive Therapy and Research

|April 20, 2012

Summary

Improving inhibitory control may reduce intrusive thoughts common in depression and anxiety. This study found that training inhibitory control enhanced working memory capacity and decreased intrusive thoughts during suppression tasks.

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Area of Science:

Cognitive Psychology
Clinical Psychology
Neuroscience

Background:

Recurrent intrusive thoughts are common in various clinical disorders like depression and anxiety.
Poor inhibitory control in executive functioning is theorized to contribute to persistent intrusive thoughts.

Purpose of the Study:

To experimentally investigate the causal relationship between inhibitory control and intrusive thoughts.
To assess if enhancing inhibitory control can reduce the occurrence of intrusive thoughts.

Main Methods:

Participants were randomly assigned to practice a working memory capacity (WMC) task with either high or low inhibitory control demands.
Inhibitory control training involved repeated practice on the WMC task.
Intrusive thoughts were measured using a thought suppression task post-training.

Main Results:

The high inhibitory control training group showed significant improvements in WMC performance compared to the control group.
Participants who underwent inhibitory control training reported fewer intrusive thoughts during the thought suppression task.
Results support the link between inhibitory control and the persistence of intrusive thoughts.

Conclusions:

Enhanced inhibitory control is causally linked to a reduction in intrusive thoughts.
Computerized training programs targeting inhibitory control may offer clinical benefits for disorders involving intrusive thoughts, such as depression and PTSD.