An investigation of working memory deficits in depression using the n-back task: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Background: Depression is associated with cognitive deficits across multiple domains, including working memory. The n-back task, a convenient psychometric tool capable of computerised delivery and concurrent use with neuroimaging, can provide enhanced insight into working memory dysfunction in depre...
| Published in: | Journal of Affective Disorders Vol. 284; pp. 1 - 9 |
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
| Format: | research systematic review tables/charts Journal Article |
| Published: |
Elsevier B.V.
Apr2021
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| Online Access: | View this record in EBSCOhost |
| fields | @attributes: recordID: 1 pdfLink: plink: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ccm&AN=148984104&site=ehost-live header: @attributes: shortDbName: ccm uiTerm: 148984104 longDbName: CINAHL Complete uiTag: AN controlInfo: bkinfo: dissinfo: jinfo: jid: 01650327 3M9 jtl: Journal of Affective Disorders issn: 01650327 maglogo: N pubinfo: dt: Apr2021 vid: 284 pid: 1004 pub: Elsevier B.V. artinfo: ui: 148984104 148984104 NLM33581489 148984104 10.1016/j.jad.2021.01.084 NLM33581489 148984104 ppf: 1 ppct: 8 formats: tig: atl: An investigation of working memory deficits in depression using the n-back task: A systematic review and meta-analysis. aug: au: Nikolin, Stevan Tan, Yi Yin Schwaab, Andreas Moffa, Adriano Loo, Colleen K. Martin, Donel affil: School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia sug: subj: Cognition Disorders Memory, Short Term Executive Function Human Depression Memory Disorders Neuropsychological Tests Systematic Review Meta Analysis ab: Background: Depression is associated with cognitive deficits across multiple domains, including working memory. The n-back task, a convenient psychometric tool capable of computerised delivery and concurrent use with neuroimaging, can provide enhanced insight into working memory dysfunction in depression. This meta-analysis sought to investigate the n-back task under varying cognitive load conditions (i.e. different levels of 'n') to clarify the pattern of working memory deficits in depression.Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies involving unipolar depressed participants and matched controls utilising the n-back task. Meta-analyses were performed for accuracy and response times at four levels of cognitive load (0-, 1-, 2-, and 3-back).Results: 31 studies (total 1,666 participants) met inclusion criteria and were included for quantitative analyses. Depressed individuals had significantly reduced accuracy compared to controls for 1-, 2-, and 3-back tasks, but not the attentional 0-back task. Likewise, response latencies were prolonged for all task levels (0-, 1-, 2-, and 3-back). Additional meta-regression analyses indicated that participant age and clinical status (i.e. inpatient/outpatient) may exacerbate working memory deficits associated with depression.Limitations: Our results indicate high levels of heterogeneity between studies, particularly for response times.Conclusions: Accuracy impairments were worse at higher levels of n, with the largest effect size obtained on the 2-back task, suggesting deficits to higher executive functions. Response times were consistently prolonged at all cognitive loads in agreement with a pattern of generalised psychomotor retardation. pubtype: Academic Journal doctype: meta analysis research systematic review tables/charts Journal Article ougenre: Article language: English refInfo: holdings: @attributes: islocal: N |
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