Controlling of interference during working memory updating in high ruminators

Abstract

Previous studies have indicated that rumination is related to the difficulties in controlling interference during updating working memory. The current study examined the relationships between interferences during working memory updating, depressive rumination, and depressive symptoms by using the 2-back paradigm. The 2-back paradigm included two forms of interferences, n+1 lure in which a 3-back item corresponded to the currently presented item instead of the 2-back item and a n-1 lure in which a 1-back item corresponded to the currently presented item instead of the 2-back item. The result indicated that the high brooding group with high scores on the brooding subscale of the Ruminative Responses Scale showed greater interference scores in response to the n+1 lure than low brooders, which was not the case in response to the n-1 lure. These findings indicate that high brooders have difficulties in removing relevant representations that are no longer needed from working memory. This finding expands those of previous studies and also extends our understanding of the mechanisms of ruminations.View full abstract