People with schizophrenia (PSZ) demonstrate reliable reductions in working memory (WM) capacity (i.e., the number of objects that can be held in memory). The present study asked whether WM impairments in PSZ can be explained by the same neural mechanisms that underlie individual differences in WM capacity among healthy individuals. Specifically, we examined event-related potentials in PSZ and h...

BACKGROUND Youths with coexisting learning disabilities (LD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are at risk for poor academic and social outcomes. The underlying cognitive deficits, such as poor working memory (WM), are not well targeted by current treatments for either LD or ADHD. Emerging evidence suggests that WM might be improved by intensive and adaptive computerized train...

The function of the ventral parietal cortex (VPC) is subject to much debate. Many studies suggest a lateralization of function in the VPC, with the left hemisphere facilitating verbal working memory and the right subserving stimulus-driven attention. However, many attentional tasks elicit activity in the VPC bilaterally. To elucidate the potential divides across the VPC in function, we assessed...

The goal of this study was to identify specific neurocognitive deficits that are associated with older listeners' difficulty understanding rapid speech. Older listeners performed speech recognition tests comprised of time-compressed sentences with and without context, and on a neurocognitive battery aimed specifically at testing working memory, processing speed, and attention. A principle compo...

To be able to reach the level of ultimate attainment in the second language, learners need to acquire not only the grammar of the L2 but also the language processing mechanisms involved in the comprehension of sentences in real time. Contrary to its importance, very little is known yet about online L2 processing. This study examines whether advanced Iranian learners of English reactivate disloc...

In tasks that selectively probe visual or spatial working memory (WM) frontal and posterior cortical areas show a segregation, with dorsal areas preferentially involved in spatial (e.g. location) WM and ventral areas in visual (e.g. object identity) WM. In a previous fMRI study [1], we showed that right parietal cortex (PC) was more active during WM for orientation, whereas left inferior fronta...

Working memory (WM) provides the neurobiological infrastructure for human cognition. Dominant models posit that prefrontal cortex (PFC) supports WM by coordinating control over distributed memory representations. In two studies, multimodal electrophysiology data reveal that PFC control over WM is rhythmic, fundamentally dynamic, and not altogether necessary. Direct brain recordings (n=10) demon...

The role of working memory (WM) for the realization of an intended action (prospective memory, PM) has been debated in recent neuropsychological literature. The present study aimed to assess whether WM and PM share resources or are, alternatively, two distinct mechanisms. A verbal task was used, which manipulated the cognitive demand of both WM and PM dimensions on an event-based prospective ta...

Spatial working memory (WM; i.e., "scratchpad" memory) is constantly updated to guide behavior based on representational knowledge of spatial position. It is maintained by spatially tuned, recurrent excitation within networks of prefrontal cortical (PFC) neurons, evident during delay periods in WM tasks. Stimulation of postsynaptic alpha2A adrenoceptors (alpha2A-ARs) is critical for WM. We repo...

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) patients have both working memory (WM) and attention problems. Good attention skills are important for WM performance; individuals have higher WM capacity when being able to prevent storage of irrelevant information through efficient filtering. Since it is unknown how filtering ability is associated with WM performance in ADHD, this was investigat...