title: Updating and inhibition processes in working memory: a comparison between Alzheimer's type dementia and frontal lobe focal damage.
abstract: A large debate has recently focused on the componential nature of the working-memory system (), as evidenced by functional-imaging studies and by using more sophisticated experimental paradigms. The present work aims at further disentangling the role and effects of central executive (CE) and of phonological loop (PL). It is suggested that maintaining active verbal information mostly relates to an intact PL, while the inhibition of interfering information preponderantly involves the CE. To distinguish these effects, two groups of brain damaged patients were administered with an updating task. Frontal lobe patients showed major difficulties in inhibiting interfering information, an ability requiring an involvement of the CE component. In contrast, Alzheimer's dementia patients evidenced a relative impairment in maintaining relevant information, requiring the intervention of the PL.
authors: Psychology Faculty, University of Trieste, Italy.
authors: Francesca
authors: F
authors: Borgo
authors: Lorena
authors: L
authors: Giovannini
authors: Raffaella
authors: R
authors: Moro
authors: Carlo
authors: C
authors: Semenza
authors: Mauro
authors: M
authors: Arcicasa
authors: Marco
authors: M
authors: Zaramella
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010700:Phonetics; D012720:Severity of Illness Index