working memory training improves resistance to addiction

[Windt]

http://www.neuroeconomics.nyu.edu/papers/Bickel1.pdf

One neurobehavioral process evident in a variety of disorders
and suboptimal behaviors is a high level of delay discounting
(1). Delay discounting refers to the decrease in
value of a reward as a function of the delay to its receipt (2). An
individual’s rate of discounting can be measured by assessing
preferences
between a sooner, smaller reward or a later, larger one.
Higher rates of discounting are associated with drug dependence
(2), problem gambling (3), obesity (4,5), and human immunodeficiency
virus risk behaviors (6,7). Given that delay discounting underlies
a wide variety of disadvantageous behaviors, itmayfunction
as a transdisease process (8).
The correlation between rates of delay discounting and suboptimal
behaviors has led, in part, to efforts to gain a better understanding
of discounting in terms of its relationship to other decision-
making and neurocognitive processes. Consideration and
valuation of the future has been shown to overlap with processes
and brain regions associated with memory or valuation of the past
(9,10). For example, discounting of past and future rewards have
been found to be qualitatively and quantitatively comparable (11–
13) by conforming to the same signature hyperbolic function and
magnitude effect, and bilateral damage to the hippocampus impairs
the ability to remember the past and to imagine future personal
experiences (14). More directly, recent demonstrations indicate
significant correlations between measures of working memory
and delay discounting (15,16). Thus, if consideration of and valuation
of the past and future are linked (17,18), then it might be
possible to decrease an individual’s discounting of future events by
increasing his or her ability to remember past events.
In this study, we employed neurocognitive rehabilitation approaches
that are proven to be effective with individuals with
schizophrenia (19,20) to examine the effects of working memory
training on measures of delay discounting, working memory, and
related assessments in individuals in treatment for psychomotor
stimulants (e.g., cocaine, methamphetamine). Frequent or heavy
users of stimulants have been shown to exhibit neurocognitive
deficits, including deficiencies in working memory (21,22) and high
rates of delay discounting (23,24).
In this study, participants receiving treatment for their stimulant
use received either experimental or control memory training.
Experimental
(Active) Training consisted of working memory tasks
with monetary reinforcement for performance. Control Training
consisted of presenting the same working memory tasks and cueing
the correct response. Reinforcement for each participant in the
control group was yoked to performance of a participant in the
active group; yoking ensured that the amount of reinforcement
obtained by each experimental group participant during each session
is also obtained by each participant in the control group. Preand
posttraining assessments on a variety of decision-making and
cognitive functions quantified the effects of training and determined
whether the effects were selective or more general.

/////////

There was no before and after IQ taken for the active and control
groups and dual n back was not explicitly used in the study. However,
the research does suggest that generic working memory training
improves a person's will to overcome instant gratification urges and
improves executive functioning.

[Windt]

I also see that this study has appeared in alots of other mainstream
journalist type sites-kinda like dual n back...

[Windt]

Is it just me, or has this joint's audience thinned out over the last
week or so. I feel there are fewer people frequenting and posting on
this message board. Have we lost interest? I know its been a while
since the original study came out for people....Personally I need to
know soon if dual n back is worth anything if im going to continue to
hang around here.

> > improves executive functioning.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

[J.]

For whatever reason there has been a lot of arguing the last two weeks
or so. I think people have been feeling less comfortable posting with
that kind of atmosphere, which is very unfortunate.

I find this study really fascinating, along with the study on
alcoholics that was posted. I'm not sure whether or not n-back will
have an effect on this. n-back and complex working memory tasks seem
to have a low correlation and I believe this kind of thing is more of
the CWM sort. My current opinion is that the task Jonathan is
currently adding to brain workshop will benefit willpower more than n-
back.

[Mr. Menesus]

I agree with J., the harsh arguments don't create a very welcoming atmosphere.

In response to "Personally I need to know soon if dual n back is worth anything if im going to continue to hang around here," the primary reasons that I keep using dual n-back are:

1) structural change in brain (increase in dopamine D1 receptors)
2) behavioral effects that benefit the long term (such as this article on addiction)
3) training made children less likely to be distracted by invalid or irrelevant information

Personally, I am not so motivated by a possible increase in IQ because the above reasons would benefit me enough to warrant the training.

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[γενβιρΟ]

"I agree with J., the harsh arguments don't create a very welcoming
atmosphere. "

apologies.

genvirO

[napoleon's_pidgin]

There are prickly and dismissive statements entangled with scientific
arguments for this position or that position. It could be worse, we
could have dimwitted trolls arguing rather than members that have
things to offer.

Toughen up your shells and post. That is funny coming from me because
I generally lurk this forum and don't post.

> > > > > > been found to be qualitatively and quantitatively comparable (11-

[Gwern Branwen]

On Mon, Oct 17, 2011 at 9:20 AM, Windt <kei...@aol.com> wrote:
>
> There was no before and after IQ taken for the active and control
> groups and dual n back was not explicitly used in the study. However,
> the research does suggest that generic working memory training
> improves a person's will to overcome instant gratification urges and
> improves executive functioning.

It's interesting but I was kind of hoping for more than just 'their
discount rate decreased on a randomized computerized choice of
dollars' - maybe direct results in terms of additional drug abuse,
that sort of thing, like the previous study with alcoholics.

--
gwern
http://www.gwern.net

[Arky]

That would be nice. Is this test a standard proxy of sorts?

On Oct 20, 8:47 am, Gwern Branwen <gwe...@gmail.com> wrote:

[Psionic]

"My current opinion is that the task Jonathan is
currently adding to brain workshop will benefit willpower more than
n-
back."

-can I ask what task it will be and in which version of BW it will be
available?

[Reece]

see: http://groups.google.com/group/brain-training/browse_thread/thread/322bceb8ec55a4a0/

[Windt]

I've found that the reverse digit span at cognitive fun.com is
particularly useful for some reason. In the study I posted Bickel uses
reverse auditory digit span-cognitivefun is reverse visual digit
span(I'm sure the effect is the same). After using reverse digit span
at cognitive fun for about a week, I've noticed a leap in my dual n
back scores. I went from 50%ish at dual 6 back to almost dual 8 back.
My mental scratchpad seems to have expanded quite a bit. Since there
is evidence of the usefulness of both dual n back and reverse digit
span(as per the article i posted) i think I will keep using both.

On Oct 25, 11:41 am, Reece <rockyb...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> see:http://groups.google.com/group/brain-training/browse_thread/thread/32...

> > > > > - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -

[Rotem Segev]

Windt, do you remember the digits in chunks? or as a whole string of
digits?
I played the same game on cogfun and I reached 18 digits, but I used
chunks of 4 digits to remember them. I didn't use mnemonics.
I didn't see any benefits from playing the RDS game. Maybe I will play
this game again without chunking.

[whoisbambam]

it is not just u.

worth it?

probably for awhile at least, ie 6months, 4days a week, 30minutes a
day--i am doubtful much can be gained beyond that time investment

[whoisbambam]

yeah, sometimes it is I who is one of the too harsh one's

this eclipsed me.

:)

as for my comments toward likeprestige, i assure the group my
intentions are well.

i am fond of the chap

[whoisbambam]

well, i wish Jonathan would add that one thing the one guy was talking
about--mimicking as close as possible

i forgot what they called it.

chein something and i think somebody misspelled it

i was hoping to get some regulars to make a donation to entice, but it
was fruitless

On Oct 25, 7:29 am, Psionic <psionic0...@gmail.com> wrote:

[Windt]

Rotem,

I got up to digit 7 within a week. No I did not "chunk" as in split up
the digits to remember in 2s 3s or 4s. Seeing as I only made it to 7,
theres not much room to chunk. Again according to the study at the top
of the thread, reverse digit span is a working memory task when
practiced is helpful in expanding working memory. Training with the
reverse digit span task and I think 3 other similar wm tasks lead to
reduced "implusive" behavior.

There is another study floating around this forum posted by me by
Dutch researchers finding the same thing(wm training reduces implusive
behavior)-this time in regards to alcoholics and alcohol intake.

I would like to have access to what Dr. Bickel used(above study-
researcher) but reverse digit span at cogfun seems very very similar
anyway.

As to my rapidly improved dual n back performance-I can get further
than before, and mentally I do not seem to be chunking any auditory or
visual input. My dual n back skill simply has improved since I've
started reverse digit span. I also don't do "fun" yet unproductive
stuff as much-like listening to my ipod or procastinate on my readings
for school or even overeat as frequently.

> > > > > - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -

[Rotem Segev]

I can testify now that this is true, I also was less impulsive, a
little bit less procrastination... but I was hoping I would get a
higher cognitive benefit, i.e. more of a Gf improvement.

BTW if you want software to train RDS you can download rapid IQ
builder.