[Article Review] The Link Between Dysphoria and Memory: A Deeper Look

Reference

Hubbard, N. A., Hutchison, J. L., Turner, M., Montroy, J., Bowles, R. P., & Rypma, B. (2015). Depressive thoughts limit working memory capacity in dysphoria. Cognition & Emotion, 30(2), 193-209. doi:10.1080/02699931.2014.991694

Review

Hubbard et al. (2015) investigated the correlation between dysphoria - a state of unease or dissatisfaction - and working memory capacity. Their study aimed to decipher if the extended attention span of dysphoric individuals (DIs) on mood-congruent information affects their working memory (WM). In the initial study, both DIs and non-DIs displayed similar WM capacities. However, when depressive information was intertwined within a WM task in the second study, DIs exhibited a notable decrease in WM capacity for goal-focused data. The third study not only supported findings from the first two but also revealed a more significant relationship for DIs between processing speed and recall on the modified WM task. The researchers proposed that a DI’s WM capacity is undermined in the presence of depressive thoughts. Consequently, these findings suggest a potential reason behind daily memory and concentration issues correlated with a depressed mood.

The methodological approach was systematic, with each subsequent study building on the previous findings, providing a comprehensive understanding. Nevertheless, the research would have benefited from a more diverse sample, as generalizing results to broader populations might be premature. Additionally, a deeper exploration into the degree or severity of dysphoria might offer nuanced insights into its impact on WM.

Hubbard and colleagues provide an essential foundation for comprehending the relationship between dysphoria and working memory. Their work underscores the need to further investigate the cognitive repercussions of mental health disorders and offers a stepping stone for subsequent researchers.