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Updated: Apr 1, 2026
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A Cognitive Paradigm to Investigate Interference in Working Memory by Distractions and Interruptions
Published on: July 16, 2015
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Interference Resolution in Emotional Working Memory as a Function of Alexithymia.
The American Journal of Psychology
|October 8, 2015
Summary
People with alexithymia show unique working memory (WM) responses to positive stimuli, potentially indicating blunted emotional reactivity. This contrasts with their typical executive control over non-emotional information.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive psychology
- Neuroscience
- Affective science
Background:
- Alexithymia is characterized by deficits in emotion processing.
- Research suggests alexithymia may involve enhanced working memory (WM) alongside executive dysfunction.
- It remains unclear if WM enhancement in alexithymia extends to executive functions or differs for emotional stimuli.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how alexithymia influences executive control within WM.
- To examine differences in interference resolution for emotional versus neutral stimuli in alexithymia.
- To determine if alexithymia moderates WM performance based on stimulus valence.
Main Methods:
- Participants (N=93) completed the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS).
- A recency probes WM task with positive, negative, and neutral stimuli was administered.
- Proactive interference was manipulated, and reaction times were measured to assess interference resolution.
Main Results:
- TAS scores moderated interference resolution for valenced stimuli.
- Highly alexithymic individuals showed less interference for positive compared to negative stimuli.
- Alexithymia did not affect interference resolution for neutral stimuli or response accuracy.
Conclusions:
- Alexithymia does not impair executive control of WM for non-emotional content.
- Alexithymic individuals exhibit an unusual response to positive stimuli, suggesting potentially blunted emotional reactivity.
- Findings highlight a specific cognitive-affective interaction in alexithymia.
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