Title

Working memory deficits in boys with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): The contribution of central executive and subsystem processes

Authors

Authors

M. D. Rapport; R. M. Alderson; M. J. Kofler; D. E. Sarver; J. Bolden;V. Sims

Comments

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Abbreviated Journal Title

J. Abnorm. Child Psychol.

Keywords

ADHD; working memory; attention; attention-deficit/hyperactivity; disorder; SHORT-TERM-MEMORY; LATENT-VARIABLE APPROACH; HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER; NAMING SPEED; CHILDREN; SCHOOL; AGE; RECOGNITION; PERFORMANCE; PREDICTORS; Psychology, Clinical; Psychology, Developmental

Abstract

The current study investigated contradictory findings from recent experimental and meta-analytic studies concerning working memory deficits in ADHD. Working memory refers to the cognitive ability to temporarily store and mentally manipulate limited amounts of information for use in guiding behavior. Phonological (verbal) and visuospatial (nonverbal) working memory were assessed across four memory load conditions in 23 boys (12 ADHD, 11 typically developing) using tasks based on Baddeley's (Working memory, thought, and action, Oxford University Press, New York, 2007) working memory model. The model posits separate phonological and visuospatial storage and rehearsal components that are controlled by a single attentional controller (CE: central executive). A latent variable approach was used to partial task performance related to three variables of interest: phonological buffer/rehearsal loop, visuospatial buffer/rehearsal loop, and the CE attentional controller. ADHD-related working memory deficits were apparent across all three cognitive systems-with the largest magnitude of deficits apparent in the CE-even after controlling for reading speed, nonverbal visual encoding, age, IQ, and SES.

Journal Title

Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology

Volume

36

Issue/Number

6

Publication Date

1-1-2008

Document Type

Article

Language

English

First Page

825

Last Page

837

WOS Identifier

WOS:000257726600003

ISSN

0091-0627

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