Empirical indices of spatial and executive processes in visuo-spatial working memory

Abstract

A prominent part in the development of the theory of visuo-spatial working memory has been played by techniques such as the Corsi Blocks task. A study on a wide variety of WM tasks using a patient group, bipolar patients in the euthymic stage, indicates that the group is relatively disadvantaged on the Corsi Blocks task. However, patients are also disadvantaged on tasks involving executive processes while visual task processes are spared. A number of regression analyses clearly indicates that the Corsi task disadvantage can be explained by the executive deficit and suggest that tasks that purportedly index spatial processes may be better considered to be dependent on the executive processes. Implications for the development of visuospatial working memory theory are discussed.

Neuropsychological Impairments and Their Cognitive Architecture in Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) with Lewy Bodies and MCI-Alzheimer’s Disease

“…J Ciafone et al (Hamilton et al, 2020). Visuospatial function is suggested to have greater dependency on the executive system than verbal function, indicating a lack of symmetry in multicomponential models of working memory (Thompson et al, 2006). While exploratory, it is possible that pronounced visuospatial dysfunction may only become apparent in DLB as a secondary effect as executive dysfunction worsens over the disease course.…”

Differential deficit in executive control in euthymic bipolar disorder.

“…Patients with BD show persistent cognitive impairment during remission (Bearden et al, 2006; Bearden, Hoffman, & Cannon, 2001; Clark, Iversen, & Goodwin, 2002; Ferrier, Stanton, Kelly, & Scott, 1999; Thompson et al, 2005; Van Gorp, Altshuler, Theberge, & Mintz, 1999; Van Gorp, Altshuler, Theberge, Wilkins, & Dixon 1998). Deficits have been observed on several tests of executive or frontal lobe function (Ferrier et al, 1999; Hawkins et al 1997; Thompson et al, 2005; Thompson et al, 2003; Zubieta, Huguelet, O'Neil, & Giordani, 2001). However, it remains controversial as to whether any deficit in executive function exists in the remitted phase of BD (e.g., Rubinsztein, Michael, Paykel, & Sahakian, 2000), whether any such deficit is restricted to executive dysfunction or is one aspect of broader cognitive decline (Bearden et al, 2006, 2001; Thompson et al, 2003), and whether any such deficit is restricted to a particular subcomponent of executive function (Thompson et al, 2003).…”

“…Deficits have been observed on several tests of executive or frontal lobe function (Ferrier et al, 1999; Hawkins et al 1997; Thompson et al, 2005; Thompson et al, 2003; Zubieta, Huguelet, O'Neil, & Giordani, 2001). However, it remains controversial as to whether any deficit in executive function exists in the remitted phase of BD (e.g., Rubinsztein, Michael, Paykel, & Sahakian, 2000), whether any such deficit is restricted to executive dysfunction or is one aspect of broader cognitive decline (Bearden et al, 2006, 2001; Thompson et al, 2003), and whether any such deficit is restricted to a particular subcomponent of executive function (Thompson et al, 2003).…”

“…To examine whether patients' executive deficit qualifies as a differential deficit, we selected a primary memory capacity measure to serve as our primary comparison standard (control task). This selection can be justified on empirical grounds; a number of groups have already observed that patients with euthymic BD have intact, primary memory capacity (Martínez-Arán et al, 2004; Robinson et al, 2006; Thompson et al, 2003), and primary memory span procedures (i.e., Digits Forward and Corsi Blocks) are relatively insensitive to the effects of prefrontal dysfunction (Baddeley & Wilson, 1988). Consistent with this, neuroimaging studies have reported dissociations in the areas required for relatively passive storage and controlled processing (E. E. Smith & Jonides, 1997).…”