working memory & ADHD

[caper]

Barkley has published papers suggesting Behavioral Inhibition (impulse control) is key to ADHD and other things like poor working memory are a side-effect of BI. This study shows some overlap (involvement of anterior cingulate in working memory), but also shows several other areas of the brain involved in working memory.

http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.3.7584&rep=rep1&type=pdf

My interpretation is that a problem in the anterior cingulate will cause BI issues (i.e. the anterior cingulate is the area of the brain responsible for BI). It will also cause impairment in working memory, but since other areas of the brain are involved in working memory, the degree of impairment to working memory will not be as significant as when there are problems in all the areas of the brain involved in working memory.

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[caper]

It appears we have two separate working memories: left & right.

http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2011/miller-memory-0623.html

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[caper]

Brain changes from working memory practice:

http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/166/5/515

I’ve intermittently practiced 2-back over the past month and now have 3-back scores better than my initial 2-back. The studies I’ve read have shown similar improvements with practice. I’ve been recording my scores and it is looking like my scores are better on the days I take concerta. I’m also looking into stroop and ssrt as potential brain exercises.

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[caper]

I’ve done >10 3-back tests in the last week, and am still strugging to get over 80% accuracy.

Most of the tests have been when I’m taking my Concerta, so even with the meds my performance is below normal.

http://jtoomim.org/brain-training/Studer%20Jaeggi%20et%20al_Psychonomics%202009.pdf

On reverse digit span, in less than 5 minutes I got up to 7.

http://cognitivefun.net/test/10

I found a paper that concludes n-back doesn’t primarily measure working memory, rather it primarily measures attentional control (ability to remove irrelevant info from wm)

csjarchive.cogsci.rpi.edu/proceedings/2011/papers/0026/paper0026.pdf

This would fit with Barkley’s BI model of ADHD; i.e. poor working memory is not a characteristic of ADHD, rather poor executive control causes problems managing working memory.

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[Bill]

Hi Caper – I too had problems seeing how n-back tests applied to my real life problems. I like the idea that the problem is in poor executive control.

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[caper]

I see it as a quantitative measure I can use to evaluate my ADHD. With practice & medication I want to improve on my deficiencies.

In the US 108mg of Concerta is the maximum adult dose, so at my next appointment I’m going to ask my doctor to let me try taking 2 of my 54mg pills. Then I’ll do a bunch of n-back tests to see if it makes a difference.

I subjectively notice a huge difference on impulse control, but that doesn’t mean it gives me “normal” impulse control. If “normal” is 8/10, maybe I’ve only gone from a 2 to a 4.

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[Author]

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