Ginseng May Improve Working Memory in Young Adults

This study aimed to examine the relationship of general cognitive function with gaming use, and to identify elements of intelligence predicting increased gaming use. In total, 160 young adults participated in this study. Two clinical groups (n = 97) were defined: excessive gaming users diagnosed with internet gaming disorder (IGD) (n = 64) and the high-risk users (n = 33). The control group (n = 63) was also divided into regular gamers (n = 14) and non-gamers (n = 49). Participants completed the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-IV and self-reported questionnaires regarding IGD severity and gaming hours. The IGD group had significantly lower Full Scale Intelligence Quotient (FSIQ), Verbal Comprehension Index (VCI), and Processing Speed Index (PSI) scores, compared with regular gamers and non-gamers. The IGD group also exhibited lower Working Memory Index (WMI) scores, compared with non-gamers. The high-risk group demonstrated significantly lower PSI score, compared with non-gamers. Furthermore FSIQ, VCI, WMI, and PSI scores were significant predictors of gaming hours in the IGD group. For the high-risk group, FSIQ, WMI, and VCI scores were negatively associated with gaming hours. Our study demonstrates the need to address the importance of enhancing working memory and verbal ability, thus, preventing the development of gaming addiction among individuals at high-risk gamers.

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Negative Effects of Embodiment in a Visuo-Spatial Working Memory Task in Children, Young Adults, and Older Adults

Frontiers in Psychology ◽

10.3389/fpsyg.2021.688174 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Gianluca Amico ◽

Sabine Schaefer

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Working Memory ◽

Young Adults ◽

Spatial Information ◽

Spatial Working Memory ◽

Cognitive Task ◽

Memory Performance ◽

Age Groups ◽

Memory Task ◽

Negative Effects

Studies examining the effect of embodied cognition have shown that linking one’s body movements to a cognitive task can enhance performance. The current study investigated whether concurrent walking while encoding or recalling spatial information improves working memory performance, and whether 10-year-old children, young adults, or older adults (Mage = 72 years) are affected differently by embodiment. The goal of the Spatial Memory Task was to encode and recall sequences of increasing length by reproducing positions of target fields in the correct order. The nine targets were positioned in a random configuration on a large square carpet (2.5 m × 2.5 m). During encoding and recall, participants either did not move, or they walked into the target fields. In a within-subjects design, all possible combinations of encoding and recall conditions were tested in counterbalanced order. Contrary to our predictions, moving particularly impaired encoding, but also recall. These negative effects were present in all age groups, but older adults’ memory was hampered even more strongly by walking during encoding and recall. Our results indicate that embodiment may not help people to memorize spatial information, but can create a dual-task situation instead.

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Associations of separate working memory parameters with comt genotypes in Western Siberia

Nauchno-prakticheskii zhurnal «Medicinskaia genetika» ◽

10.25557/2073-7998.2019.06.43-49 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 43-49

Author(s):

А.В. Суханов ◽

С.Е. Семаев ◽

В.Н. Максимов

Keyword(s):

Working Memory ◽

Young Adults ◽

Western Siberia ◽

Venous Blood ◽

Population Sample ◽

Comt Gene ◽

Screening Methods ◽

Val158met Polymorphism ◽

Standardized Screening ◽

Naming Test

Цель. Изучить ассоциации отдельных параметров оперативной памяти с полиморфным локусом Val158Met (rs4680) гена COMT у лиц молодого возраста. Материалы и методы. 371 участник 25-44 лет отобран из популяционной выборки г. Новосибирска. Исследование включало 199 (53,6%) мужчин (36,54 ± 5,67 года) и 172 (46,4%) женщины (36,84 ± 5,75 года). Когнитивные функции оценивались стандартизованными для целей скрининга методами: запоминание 10-ти слов по методике А.Р. Лурия, корректурная проба Бурдона, методика исключения понятий (словесный вариант теста) с фиксацией времени её выполнения, а также тест на речевую активность (тест называния животных). Геномную ДНК выделяли из венозной крови методом фенол-хлороформной экстракции. Генотипирование полиморфного локуса Val158Met (rs4680) гена COMT выполняли методом ПЦР с ПДРФ. Результаты. Выявлены статистически значимые ассоциации (p<0,05) полиморфного локуса Val158Met (rs4680) гена COMT с количеством правильно названных за 1 минуту животных в тесте на речевую активность, со временем, которое затрачивалось на выполнение теста исключения понятий, а также с первым воспроизведением запомненных слов сразу же после предъявления 10-ти слов в тесте по Лурия. Кроме того, количество жалоб на забывчивость постоянно используемых обследуемым номеров телефонов при наличии одного или двух аллелей А было достоверно выше. Заключение. Аллель А полиморфного локуса Val158Met (rs4680) гена COMT, особенно в гомозиготном состоянии, ассоциирован с параметрами оперативной памяти у жителей Новосибирска. Ain: to evaluate the associations between working memory parameters and Val158Met (rs4680) polymorphism of the COMT gene in young adults. Methods: 371 young adults of both sexes 25-44 years old were recruited from population sample of Novosibirsk. The study included 199 (53,6%) men (average age was 36,54 ± 5,67 years) and 172 (46,4%) women (average age was 36,84 ± 5,75 years). Cognitive function were determined by standardized screening methods. Luria’s 10-words test, letter cancellation test (modified Bourdon’s test), and test of excluded of incorrect words (verbal version of the test) with fixing the time for its implementation, as well as animal naming test were used. Genomic DNA was isolated from venous blood by the phenol-chloroform extraction. Genotyping of the Val158Met polymorphism (rs4680) of the COMT gene was performed using PCR with RFLP. Results: Statistically significant associations (p < 0,05) between quantity of the animals who are correctly called in 1 minute, with time which was spent for exclution of incorrect words, as well as with the first reproduction of the words memorized immediately in Luria test and Val158Met (rs4680) polymorphism of the COMT gene in young adults were revealed. Moreover the quantity of the complaints about the forgetfulness of used phone numbers had significantly higher in the presence of one or two A alleles of the Val158Met polymorphism of the COMT gene. Conclusion: The allele A of the Val158Met (rs4680) polymorphism of the COMT gene, especially in the homozygous state, has a significant association with the working memory parameters of Novosibirsk residents.

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