Deciphering components of impaired working memory in multiple sclerosis.
OBJECTIVE
To identify working memory (WM) impairment by examining components of auditory working memory with the same sample of individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS).


BACKGROUND
Although individuals with MS have consistently demonstrated WM impairments, the specific components involved (i.e., central executive versus storage/maintenance) remain unclear.


METHODS
Individuals with MS with and without cognitive impairment and healthy controls were administered a task primarily assessing storage and rehearsal/maintenance (auditory n-back) and a task with a significant central executive component (Paced Auditory Serial Addition Task).


RESULTS
Results indicate when the phonological loop is minimally challenged, maintenance of information is generally efficient. However, the addition of a central executive component to processing appears to be the key factor in differentiating individuals with MS with cognitive impairment from those without cognitive impairment and healthy controls.


CONCLUSIONS
Results indicated that the primary WM impairment in MS is within the central executive rather than the phonological loop.
Lengenfelder
Jean
J
Kessler Medical Rehabilitation Research and Education Corporation, Neuropsychology and Neuroscience Laboratory, West Orange, NJ 07052, USA.
Chiaravalloti
Nancy D
ND
Ricker
Joseph H
JH
DeLuca
John
J
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D008606:Mental Processes / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012016:Reference Values; D014706:Verbal Learning / Q000502:physiology*