Nature of the working memory deficit in fragile-X syndrome.
Working memory performance in a group of young Fragile X males with FMR-1 full mutation was compared to a learning disabled comparison group comprising Down's syndrome males and two control groups of mainstream schoolchildren. Performance was assessed on a battery of tasks tapping the three components of working memory-phonological loop, visual-spatial sketch pad, and the central executive. The results indicated that the Fragile X group displayed a general impairment on working memory tasks that cannot be attributed to a single working memory component per se. Instead, the results suggest that Fragile X males have a working memory deficit that may be attributed to how much attentional resource a specific task requires and their overall available executive capacity, irrespective of the working memory subsystem.
Munir
F
F
Section of Developmental Psychiatry, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2UH, United Kingdom.
Cornish
K M
KM
Wilding
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000150:complications; D005600:Fragile X Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010700:Phonetics; D017354:Point Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D012153:Retention, Psychology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013028:Space Perception / Q000502:physiology