A Study Of Manipulating Information And Updating Information In Working Memory Of The Depressed Individuals

Object:(1) The study aimed to explore the ability to manipulate information inworking memory of the depressed individuals and the connection between the abilityto manipulate information and the degree of depression and rumination.(2) The study aimed to explore the ability to update information in workingmemory of the depressed individuals and the connection between the ability to updateinformation and the degree of depression and rumination.Methods: According to the Self-Report Depression Scale(CES-D) and BeckDepression Inventory(BDI),we filter out36depressed individuals and40normalindividuals as experimental subjects.The study includes two experiments and chooseemotion pictures as stimuli material.The first one is about the ability to manipulateinformation in working memory,by analyzing the reaction time and accuracy of twogroups`responses to discuss the ability to manipulate information in workingmemory.The second one is about the ability to update information in workingmemory,by analyzing the reaction time and accuracy to discuss the ability to updateinformation in working memory.Result：(1)There is significant difference between the depressed individuals andthe normal controls in response latencies when manipulating information in workingmemory.Compared with normal controls,the depressed individuals have longerresponse latencies on valence of positive picture,valence neutral of pictures,andvalence of negative pictures.(2)When individuals are manipulating information in working memory,there issignificant difference between valence of positive picture,valence neutral ofpictures,and valence of negative pictures.To compared with valence of positivepicture and valence neutral of pictures,the valence of negative pictures have longerresponse latencies.(3)There is significant difference between forward trials and backwardtrials,when manipulating information in working memory.To compared with forwardtrials,backward trials have longer response latencies.(4) The level of depression is a significant predictor for the depressed individualswhen manipulating information in working memory.(5)When individuals are updating information in working memory,there issignificant difference between the depressed individuals and the normal controls inresponse latencies.To compared with normal controls,the depressed individuals have longer response latencies on valence of positive picture and valence of negativepictures.(6)There is significant difference between valence of positive picture and valenceof negative pictures when updating information in working memory.To comparedwith valence of positive picture,the valence of negative pictures have longer responselatencies.(7)When individuals are updating information in working memory,there issignificant difference between relevant probes, intrusion probes,new positive probes,and new negative probes.Furthermore,response latencies of intrusion probes aresignificant longer than others’.(8)The level of depression is a significant predictor for the depressed individualswhen updating information in working memory.Conclusions:(1)The depressed individuals have difficulties to manipulatinginformation in working memory,and the level of depression is associated withdifficulties manipulating information in working memory.(2)When individuals are updating the contents of working memory,the depressedindividuals would receive the interference from irrelevant negative material,and theincreased interference from irrelevant negative material is associated with the level ofdepression.