Abstract
Impairments in the executive control function of working memory may underlie moodcongruent attentional and memory biases in
depression. Given that the capacity to control and manipulate information held in working memory has been implicated in depressive
symptoms and rumination, the present study investigated shifting capacity between internal emotional and nonemotional information
in working memory. For this purpose, the Internal Shift Task (IST) was administered to a sample of dysphoric (N = 20) and non-dysphoric undergraduates (N = 20). The main finding was that depressive symptoms in general were not related to impairments in shifting. Interestingly,
rumination was related to internal shifting impairments that were most pronounced when negative information was held in working
memory. These findings concerning the relation between rumination and shifting impairments are discussed in relation to cognitive
vulnerability for depression.
depression. Given that the capacity to control and manipulate information held in working memory has been implicated in depressive
symptoms and rumination, the present study investigated shifting capacity between internal emotional and nonemotional information
in working memory. For this purpose, the Internal Shift Task (IST) was administered to a sample of dysphoric (N = 20) and non-dysphoric undergraduates (N = 20). The main finding was that depressive symptoms in general were not related to impairments in shifting. Interestingly,
rumination was related to internal shifting impairments that were most pronounced when negative information was held in working
memory. These findings concerning the relation between rumination and shifting impairments are discussed in relation to cognitive
vulnerability for depression.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-10
- DOI 10.1007/s10608-011-9352-4
- Authors
- Evi De Lissnyder, Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Henri Dunantlaan, 2, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
- Ernst H. W. Koster, Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Henri Dunantlaan, 2, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
- Rudi De Raedt, Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Henri Dunantlaan, 2, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
- Journal Cognitive Therapy and Research
- Online ISSN 1573-2819
- Print ISSN 0147-5916