Working memory training in post-stroke aphasia: Near and far transfer effects

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Psychology
• Speech-Language Pathology

Background:

• Individuals with aphasia (IWA) often experience deficits in cognitive functions, including working memory (WM).
• Working memory is crucial for holding and manipulating information to support goal-directed behaviors.
• Impaired WM is a common characteristic of aphasia, impacting communication and daily functioning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of a working memory (WM) training program on memory and language performance in individuals with aphasia (IWA).
• To determine if WM training leads to improvements in both trained and untrained WM tasks.
• To assess the potential for WM training to enhance language abilities in IWA.

Main Methods:

• A quasi-experimental design with an active control group was employed.
• Twenty-five participants with mild to moderate Broca's aphasia were allocated to either a WM training group (n=13) or a control group (n=12).
• The training group received WM training, while the control group received routine speech therapy; assessments were conducted pre- and post-intervention using distinct WM test lists.

Main Results:

• The WM training group demonstrated significant improvements in both trained and non-trained working memory tasks, indicating a near transfer effect.
• Participants in the training group also showed significant improvements in language performance, suggesting a far transfer effect.
• These improvements were significantly greater compared to the control group.

Conclusions:

• The working memory (WM) training program exhibited positive generalizability, enhancing both WM and language performance in individuals with aphasia.
• WM training is recommended as a component of comprehensive rehabilitation strategies for aphasia.
• The findings support the integration of WM interventions into speech and language therapy for IWA.