Working memory capacity and rumination in adults who stutter

Purpose

Difficulty discarding irrelevant negative stimuli activated in working memory has been linked to increased rumination. Adults who stutter (AWS) report (a) rumination about communication events, and (b) difficulties during tasks that require manipulation of information held in working memory compared to non-stuttering adults (AWNS). Given the link between rumination and working memory, this study examined whether AWS discard negative stimuli faster or slower compared to AWNS, and whether speed of discarding negative information is linked to generalized rumination.

Method

To assess the relationship between working memory and rumination, 26 participants (14 AWS, 12 AWNS) completed a version of the Modified Sternberg Task. Participants first memorized wordlists with positive or negative emotional valence. Participants were then cued to recall a specific wordlist, followed by a prompt word that either matched or conflicted with the wordlist. Manual response latency was compared between groups.

Results

AWS and AWNS exhibit comparable speed when discarding irrelevant stimuli, with both groups slower to discard negative rather than positive irrelevant stimuli. Latency of discarding negative information was not associated with self-reported rumination in AWS.

Conclusions

Preliminary data indicate no differences in the rate at which AWS and AWNS regulate negative stimuli. Additionally, rumination does not appear to be uniquely associated with the speed at which negative information is discarded. Further research is warranted to determine what role, if any, working memory has in the repetitive negative thinking reported by some, but not all, individuals who stutter.