Working memory intervention programs for adults: A systematic review

Netto, Tânia Maria; Greca, Denise Vieira; Zimmermann, Nicolle; Oliveira, Camila; Fonseca, Rochele Paz; Landeira-Fernandez, J.

doi:10.1590/S1980-57642010DN40300011

Abstract

This systematic review aimed to identify the designs, procedures, and results of empirical studies that performed neuropsychological interventions on WM in adults.

Methods:

A PubMed and LILACS literature search was conducted using the keywords working memory AND (training OR rehabilitation OR intervention) AND adult.

Results:

Of the seven studies found, three were randomized controlled trials, two were case reports, one was a clinical trial, and one was an evaluation study. With regard to the type of programs and samples, three studies employed global programs with healthy elderly adults and four employed specific programs for samples with neurologically-impaired adults.

Conclusions:

The effectiveness of the WM intervention programs was more evident in studies that employed specific methods of rehabilitation for samples with neurological disorders than in those based on global programs with healthy adults. There is a need for more empirical studies to verify the effectiveness of WM intervention programs in order to provide adequate guidance for clinical neuropsychologists and future research.

Key words:
working memory; rehabilitation; intervention studies; effectiveness; adults

Resumo

Essa revisão sistemática teve como objetivo identificar os delineamentos, procedimentos, e resultados dos estudos empíricos que investigaram intervenções neuropsicológicas de memória de trabalho em adultos.

Métodos:

Foi realizada uma busca da literatura nas bases de dados PubMed e LILACS, utilizando as palavras-chave memória de trabalho working memory AND (training OR rehabilitation OR intervention) AND adult, ou memória de trabalho E (treino OU reabilitação OU intervenção) E adulto.

Resultados:

De sete estudos encontrados, três eram estudos randomizados controlados, dois eram relatos de casos, um era um ensaio clínico, e um estudo, de avaliação neuropsicológica. Em relação ao tipo de programa e amostra, três estudos foram conduzidos utilizando programas globais de intervenção com idosos saudáveis e quatro utilizaram-se de programas específicos de intervenção com amostras clínicas de pacientes neurológicos.

Conclusões:

A efetividade dos programas de intervenção em memória de trabalho foi mais evidente em estudos que empregaram métodos específicos de reabilitação com amostras clínicas neurológicas, quando comparados àqueles baseados em programas gerais de intervenção com adultos saudáveis. Existe necessidade de estudos empíricos que verifiquem a eficácia de programas de intervenção em memória de trabalho que possam contribuir com orientações adequadas para neuropsicológos clínicos e para futuras pesquisas.

Palavras-chave:
memória de trabalho; reabilitação; estudos de intervenção; efetividade; adultos

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References

Busch RM, Chapin JS. Review of normative data for common screening measures used to evaluate cognitive functioning in elderly individuals. Clin Neuropsychol 2008;22:620-650.
Peña-Casanova J, Quiñones-Ubeda S, Quintana-Aparicio M, et al. Spanish Multicenter Normative Studies (NEURONORMA Project): norms for verbal span, visuospatial span, letter and number sequencing, trail making test, and symbol digit modalities test. Arch Clin Neuropsychol 2009;24:321-341.
Baddeley A, Hitch GJ. Working Memory. In: Bower GA (editor). The psychology of learning and motivation: volume 8. Advances in Research and Theory. New York: Academic Press; 1974:47-89.
Baddeley A. The episodic buffer: a new component of working memory? Trends Cogn Sci 2000;4:417-423.
Baddeley A, Hitch GJ, Allen RJ. Working memory and binding in sentence recall. J Mem Lang 2009;61:438-456.
Wilson BA. Neuropsychological rehabilitation. Annu Rev Clin Psychol 2008;4:141-162.
Wilson BA. Cognitive rehabilitation in the 21^st century. Neurorehabil Neural Repair 2002;16:207-210.
Francés I, Barandiarán M, Marcellán T, Moreno L. Psychocognitive stimulation in dementias. Na Sist Sanit Navar 2003;26: 405-422.
Baddeley AD. Exploring the central executive. Q J Exp Psychol A Human Exp Psychol 1996;49A:5-28.
Baddeley A. Fractionating the central executive. In: Baddeley AD (editor). Working memory, thought and action. New York: Oxford University Press; 2007:139-169.
Baddeley A. Working memory. In: Baddeley AD, Eysenck MW, Anderson MC (editors). Memory. New York: Psychology Press; 2009:41-68.
Baddeley A. Long term and the episodic buffer. In: Baddeley AD (editor). Working memory, thought and action . New York: Oxford University Press ; 2007:117-138.
Huntley JD, Howard RJ. Working memory in early Alzheimer's disease: a neuropsychological review. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 2010;25:121-132.
Lim HK, Juh R, Pae CU, Lee BT, Yoo SS, Ryu SH, Kwak KR, Lee C, Lee CU. Altered verbal working memory process in patients with Alzheimer's disease: an FMRI investigation. Neuropsychobiology 2008;57:181-187.
MacPherson SE, Della Sala S, Logie RH, Wilcock GK. Specific AD impairment in concurrent performance of two memory tasks. Cortex 2007;43:858-865.
Sebastian MV, Menor J, Elosua MR. Attentional dysfunction of the central executive in AD: evidence from dual task and perseveration errors. Cortex 2006;42:1015-1020.
Chiaravalloti N, Hillary F, Ricker J, Christodoulou C, Kalnin A, Liu WC, Steffener J, DeLuca J. Cerebral activation patterns during working memory performance in multiple sclerosis using fMRI. J Clin Exp Neuropsychol 2005;27:33-54.
Hildebrandt H, Lanz M, Hahn HK, Hoffmann E, Schwarze B, Schwendemann G, Kraus JA. Cognitive training in MS: effects and relation to brain atrophy. Restor Neurol Neurosci 2007;25:33-43.
Philipose LE, Alphs H, Prabhakaran V, Hillis AE. Testing conclusions from functional imaging of working memory with data from acute stroke. Behav Neurol 2007;18:37-43.
Serino A, Ciaramelli E, Santantonio AD, Malagù S, Servadei F, Làdavas E. A pilot study for rehabilitation of central executive deficits after traumatic brain injury. Brain Inj 2007;21:11-19.
Vallat-Azouvi C, Weber T, Legrand L, Azouvi P. Working memory after severe traumatic brain injury. J Int Neuropsychol Soc 2007;13:770-780.
Vallat-Azouvi C, Pradat-Diehl P, Azouvi P. Rehabilitation of the central executive of working memory after a severe traumatic brain injury: two single-case studies. Brain Inj 2009;23:585-594.
Westerberg H, Jacobaeus H, Hirvikoski T, Clevberger P, Ostensson ML, Bartfai A, Klingberg T. Computerized working memory training after stroke: a pilot study. Brain Inj 2007;21:21-29.
Marquand AF, Mourão-Miranda J, Brammer MJ, Cleare AJ, Fu CH. Neuroanatomy of verbal working memory as a diagnostic biomarker for depression. Neuroreport 2008;19:1507-1511.
Mondal S, Sharma VK, Das S, Goswami U, Gandhi A. Neuro-cognitive functions in patients of major depression. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol 2007;51:69-75.
Green MF. Cognitive impairment and functional outcome in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. J Clin Psychiatry 2006;67 (Suppl 9):3-8.
Sánchez-Morla EM, Barabash A, Martínez-Vizcaíno V, Tabarés-Seisdedos R, Balanzá-Martínez V, Cabranes-Díaz JA, Baca-Baldomero E, Gómez JL. Comparative study of neurocognitive function in euthymic bipolar patients and stabilized schizophrenic patients. Psychiatry Res 2009;169:220-228.
Pae CU, Juh R, Yoo SS, Choi BG, Lim HK, Lee C, Paik H, Jeun SS, Lee CU. Verbal working memory dysfunction in schizophrenia: an fMRI investigation. Int J Neurosci 2008;118:1467-1487.
Pachou E, Vourkas M, Simos P, Smit D, Stam CJ, Tsirka V, Micheloyannis S. Working memory in schizophrenia: an EEG study using power spectrum and coherence analysis to estimate cortical activation and network behavior. Brain Topogr 2008;21:128-137.
Dahlin E, Bäckman L, Neely AS, Nyberg L. Training of the executive component of working memory: subcortical areas mediate transfer effects. Restor Neurol Neurosci 2009;27:405-419.
Buiza C, Etxeberria I, Galdona N, Gonzalez MF, Arriola E, Lopez de Munain A, Urdaneta E, Yanguas JJ. A randomized, two-year study of the efficacy of cognitive intervention on elderly people: the Donostia Longitudinal Study. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 2008;23:85-94.
Craik FIM, Winocur G, Palmer H, Binns MA, Edwards M, Bridges K, Glazer P, Chavannes R, Stuss DT. Cognitive rehabilitation in the elderly: effects on memory. J Int Neuropsychol Soc 2007;13:132-142.
Buschkuehl M, Jaeggi SM, Hutchison S, Perrig-Chiello P, Dapp C, Muller M, Breil F, Hoppeler H, Perrig WJ. Impact of working memory training on memory performance in old-old adults. Psychol Aging 2008;23:743-753.
Duval J, Coyette F, Seron X. Rehabilitation of the central executive component of working memory: a re-organisation approach applied to a single case. Neuropsychol Rehab 2008;18: 430-460.
Cicerone KD, Dahlberg C, Kalmar K, Langenbahn DM, Malec JF, Bergquist TF, Felicetti T, Giacino JT, Harley JP, Harrington DE, Herzog J, Kneipp S, Laatsch L, Morse PA. Evidence-based cognitive rehabilitation: recommendations for clinical practice. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2000;81:1596-1615.
Cicerone KD, Dahlberg C, Malec JF, Langenbahn DM, Felicetti T, Kneipp S, Ellmo W, Kalmar K, Giacino JT, Harley JP, Laatsch L, Morse PA, Catanese J. Evidence-based cognitive rehabilitation: updated review of the literature from 1998 through 2002. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2005;86:1681-1692.
Teasell R, Bayona N, Marshall S, et al. A systematic review of the rehabilitation of moderate to severe acquired brain injuries. Brain Inj 2007;21:107-112.
Zehnder F, Martin M, Altgassen M, Clare L. Memory training effects in old age as markers of plasticity: a meta-analysis. Restorative Neurol Neuroci 2009;27:507-520.
Vallat C, Azouvi P, Hardisson H, Meffert R, Tessier C, Pradat-Diehl P. Rehabilitation of verbal working memory after left hemisphere stroke. Brain Inj 2005;19:1157-1164.
Azouvi P, Couillet J, Leclercq M, Martin Y, Asloun S, Rousseaux M. Divided attention and mental effort after severe traumatic brain injury. Neuropsychologia 2004;42: 1260-1268.
Cullen N, Chundamala J, Bayley M, Jutai J. The efficacy of acquired brain injury rehabilitation. Brain Inj 2007;21:113-132.
Jaeggi SM, Buschkuehl M, Jonides J, Perring WJ. Improving fluid intelligence with training on working memory. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2008;105:6829-6833.

Publication Dates

Publication in this collection
Jul-Sep 2010

History

Received
08 Apr 2010
Accepted
12 June 2010

This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License

[1] Busch RM, Chapin JS. Review of normative data for common screening measures used to evaluate cognitive functioning in elderly individuals. Clin Neuropsychol 2008;22:620-650.

[2] Peña-Casanova J, Quiñones-Ubeda S, Quintana-Aparicio M, et al. Spanish Multicenter Normative Studies (NEURONORMA Project): norms for verbal span, visuospatial span, letter and number sequencing, trail making test, and symbol digit modalities test. Arch Clin Neuropsychol 2009;24:321-341.

[3] Baddeley A, Hitch GJ. Working Memory. In: Bower GA (editor). The psychology of learning and motivation: volume 8. Advances in Research and Theory. New York: Academic Press; 1974:47-89.

[4] Baddeley A. The episodic buffer: a new component of working memory? Trends Cogn Sci 2000;4:417-423.

[5] Baddeley A, Hitch GJ, Allen RJ. Working memory and binding in sentence recall. J Mem Lang 2009;61:438-456.

[6] Wilson BA. Neuropsychological rehabilitation. Annu Rev Clin Psychol 2008;4:141-162.

[7] Wilson BA. Cognitive rehabilitation in the 21^st century. Neurorehabil Neural Repair 2002;16:207-210.

[8] Francés I, Barandiarán M, Marcellán T, Moreno L. Psychocognitive stimulation in dementias. Na Sist Sanit Navar 2003;26: 405-422.

[9] Baddeley AD. Exploring the central executive. Q J Exp Psychol A Human Exp Psychol 1996;49A:5-28.

[10] Baddeley A. Fractionating the central executive. In: Baddeley AD (editor). Working memory, thought and action. New York: Oxford University Press; 2007:139-169.

[11] Baddeley A. Working memory. In: Baddeley AD, Eysenck MW, Anderson MC (editors). Memory. New York: Psychology Press; 2009:41-68.

[12] Baddeley A. Long term and the episodic buffer. In: Baddeley AD (editor). Working memory, thought and action . New York: Oxford University Press ; 2007:117-138.

[13] Huntley JD, Howard RJ. Working memory in early Alzheimer's disease: a neuropsychological review. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 2010;25:121-132.

[14] Lim HK, Juh R, Pae CU, Lee BT, Yoo SS, Ryu SH, Kwak KR, Lee C, Lee CU. Altered verbal working memory process in patients with Alzheimer's disease: an FMRI investigation. Neuropsychobiology 2008;57:181-187.

[15] MacPherson SE, Della Sala S, Logie RH, Wilcock GK. Specific AD impairment in concurrent performance of two memory tasks. Cortex 2007;43:858-865.

[16] Sebastian MV, Menor J, Elosua MR. Attentional dysfunction of the central executive in AD: evidence from dual task and perseveration errors. Cortex 2006;42:1015-1020.

[17] Chiaravalloti N, Hillary F, Ricker J, Christodoulou C, Kalnin A, Liu WC, Steffener J, DeLuca J. Cerebral activation patterns during working memory performance in multiple sclerosis using fMRI. J Clin Exp Neuropsychol 2005;27:33-54.

[18] Hildebrandt H, Lanz M, Hahn HK, Hoffmann E, Schwarze B, Schwendemann G, Kraus JA. Cognitive training in MS: effects and relation to brain atrophy. Restor Neurol Neurosci 2007;25:33-43.

[19] Philipose LE, Alphs H, Prabhakaran V, Hillis AE. Testing conclusions from functional imaging of working memory with data from acute stroke. Behav Neurol 2007;18:37-43.

[20] Serino A, Ciaramelli E, Santantonio AD, Malagù S, Servadei F, Làdavas E. A pilot study for rehabilitation of central executive deficits after traumatic brain injury. Brain Inj 2007;21:11-19.

[21] Vallat-Azouvi C, Weber T, Legrand L, Azouvi P. Working memory after severe traumatic brain injury. J Int Neuropsychol Soc 2007;13:770-780.

[22] Vallat-Azouvi C, Pradat-Diehl P, Azouvi P. Rehabilitation of the central executive of working memory after a severe traumatic brain injury: two single-case studies. Brain Inj 2009;23:585-594.

[23] Westerberg H, Jacobaeus H, Hirvikoski T, Clevberger P, Ostensson ML, Bartfai A, Klingberg T. Computerized working memory training after stroke: a pilot study. Brain Inj 2007;21:21-29.

[24] Marquand AF, Mourão-Miranda J, Brammer MJ, Cleare AJ, Fu CH. Neuroanatomy of verbal working memory as a diagnostic biomarker for depression. Neuroreport 2008;19:1507-1511.

[25] Mondal S, Sharma VK, Das S, Goswami U, Gandhi A. Neuro-cognitive functions in patients of major depression. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol 2007;51:69-75.

[26] Green MF. Cognitive impairment and functional outcome in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. J Clin Psychiatry 2006;67 (Suppl 9):3-8.

[27] Sánchez-Morla EM, Barabash A, Martínez-Vizcaíno V, Tabarés-Seisdedos R, Balanzá-Martínez V, Cabranes-Díaz JA, Baca-Baldomero E, Gómez JL. Comparative study of neurocognitive function in euthymic bipolar patients and stabilized schizophrenic patients. Psychiatry Res 2009;169:220-228.

[28] Pae CU, Juh R, Yoo SS, Choi BG, Lim HK, Lee C, Paik H, Jeun SS, Lee CU. Verbal working memory dysfunction in schizophrenia: an fMRI investigation. Int J Neurosci 2008;118:1467-1487.

[29] Pachou E, Vourkas M, Simos P, Smit D, Stam CJ, Tsirka V, Micheloyannis S. Working memory in schizophrenia: an EEG study using power spectrum and coherence analysis to estimate cortical activation and network behavior. Brain Topogr 2008;21:128-137.

[30] Dahlin E, Bäckman L, Neely AS, Nyberg L. Training of the executive component of working memory: subcortical areas mediate transfer effects. Restor Neurol Neurosci 2009;27:405-419.

[31] Buiza C, Etxeberria I, Galdona N, Gonzalez MF, Arriola E, Lopez de Munain A, Urdaneta E, Yanguas JJ. A randomized, two-year study of the efficacy of cognitive intervention on elderly people: the Donostia Longitudinal Study. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 2008;23:85-94.

[32] Craik FIM, Winocur G, Palmer H, Binns MA, Edwards M, Bridges K, Glazer P, Chavannes R, Stuss DT. Cognitive rehabilitation in the elderly: effects on memory. J Int Neuropsychol Soc 2007;13:132-142.

[33] Buschkuehl M, Jaeggi SM, Hutchison S, Perrig-Chiello P, Dapp C, Muller M, Breil F, Hoppeler H, Perrig WJ. Impact of working memory training on memory performance in old-old adults. Psychol Aging 2008;23:743-753.

[34] Duval J, Coyette F, Seron X. Rehabilitation of the central executive component of working memory: a re-organisation approach applied to a single case. Neuropsychol Rehab 2008;18: 430-460.

[35] Cicerone KD, Dahlberg C, Kalmar K, Langenbahn DM, Malec JF, Bergquist TF, Felicetti T, Giacino JT, Harley JP, Harrington DE, Herzog J, Kneipp S, Laatsch L, Morse PA. Evidence-based cognitive rehabilitation: recommendations for clinical practice. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2000;81:1596-1615.

[36] Cicerone KD, Dahlberg C, Malec JF, Langenbahn DM, Felicetti T, Kneipp S, Ellmo W, Kalmar K, Giacino JT, Harley JP, Laatsch L, Morse PA, Catanese J. Evidence-based cognitive rehabilitation: updated review of the literature from 1998 through 2002. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2005;86:1681-1692.

[37] Teasell R, Bayona N, Marshall S, et al. A systematic review of the rehabilitation of moderate to severe acquired brain injuries. Brain Inj 2007;21:107-112.

[38] Zehnder F, Martin M, Altgassen M, Clare L. Memory training effects in old age as markers of plasticity: a meta-analysis. Restorative Neurol Neuroci 2009;27:507-520.

[39] Vallat C, Azouvi P, Hardisson H, Meffert R, Tessier C, Pradat-Diehl P. Rehabilitation of verbal working memory after left hemisphere stroke. Brain Inj 2005;19:1157-1164.

[40] Azouvi P, Couillet J, Leclercq M, Martin Y, Asloun S, Rousseaux M. Divided attention and mental effort after severe traumatic brain injury. Neuropsychologia 2004;42: 1260-1268.

[41] Cullen N, Chundamala J, Bayley M, Jutai J. The efficacy of acquired brain injury rehabilitation. Brain Inj 2007;21:113-132.

[42] Jaeggi SM, Buschkuehl M, Jonides J, Perring WJ. Improving fluid intelligence with training on working memory. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2008;105:6829-6833.

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