University of Exeter, UK.
University of Exeter, UK.
Behav Res Ther. 2021 Jul;142:103871. doi: 10.1016/j.brat.2021.103871. Epub 2021 May 5.
Repetitive negative thinking (RNT) is a proximal risk factor implicated in the onset and maintenance of common mental health problems such as depression and anxiety. Adolescence may be a key developmental window in which to target RNT and prevent the emergence of such disorders. Impairments in updating the contents of working memory are hypothesised to causally contribute to RNT, and some theorists have suggested these difficulties may be specific to the manipulation of negative information. The present study compared the effects of computerised adaptive working memory updating training (in which the task becomes more difficult as performance improves) to a non-adaptive control task in reducing levels of RNT. 124 healthy young people were randomised to 20 sessions of (i) working memory updating training using neutral stimuli, (ii) working memory updating training using negative stimuli, or (iii) non-adaptive working memory updating training. Adaptive working memory updating training using neutral, but not negative, stimuli resulted in significant improvements to working memory updating for negative material, as assessed using an unpractised task, and significant reductions in susceptibility to state RNT. These findings demonstrate proof-of-concept that working memory updating training has the potential to reduce susceptibility to episodes of state RNT.
重复性消极思维（RNT）是一种与抑郁和焦虑等常见心理健康问题的发生和维持有关的近端风险因素。青春期可能是一个关键的发育窗口，可以针对 RNT 并预防这些障碍的出现。工作记忆内容更新的障碍被假设为导致 RNT 的原因，一些理论家认为这些困难可能是专门针对负面信息的操作。本研究比较了计算机自适应工作记忆更新训练（随着表现的提高，任务变得更加困难）和非自适应控制任务对降低 RNT 水平的影响。124 名健康的年轻人被随机分配到 20 次（i）使用中性刺激的工作记忆更新训练，（ii）使用负面刺激的工作记忆更新训练，或（iii）非自适应工作记忆更新训练。使用中性但不是负面刺激的自适应工作记忆更新训练导致对使用未练习任务评估的负面材料的工作记忆更新有显著改善，并且对状态 RNT 的易感性有显著降低。这些发现证明了工作记忆更新训练有可能降低状态 RNT 发作的易感性。
