2025, Vol. 6, Issue 2, Part A
Neuropsychological predictors of working memory deficits in adolescents with moderate intellectual disability
Author(s): Ana María Pérez Soto, María Isabel Vargas Jiménez and Eduardo Chaves González
Abstract: Working memory is central to cognitive development, supporting reasoning, learning, and adaptive behavior. Adolescents with moderate intellectual disability (MID) often present with marked impairments in this area, which limit their educational progress and daily functioning. The present study examined the extent to which specific neuropsychological domains attention, processing speed, executive functions, and language abilities serve as predictors of working memory performance in adolescents with MID. The study was conducted using a cross-sectional design with participants aged 12-18 years recruited from special education schools and rehabilitation centers. Standardized assessments of working memory, selective attention, verbal fluency, processing speed, and executive control were administered individually under controlled conditions. Data were analyzed using multiple regression to identify the relative contribution of each domain to working memory outcomes. Executive function and processing speed showed the strongest associations with working memory scores, accounting for the largest share of explained variance. Attention and language abilities also contributed, though their influence was less pronounced. The findings suggest that working memory difficulties in adolescents with MID arise from a combination of deficits across several neuropsychological processes rather than a single cognitive limitation. The results highlight the value of comprehensive cognitive assessment in this population. Identifying the specific domains most closely linked to working memory provides a foundation for designing targeted intervention strategies. Programs that strengthen executive functioning and improve processing speed may yield meaningful improvements in memory capacity, academic learning, and adaptive behavior among adolescents with MID.
DOI: 10.22271/27103889.2025.v6.i2a.72
Pages: 17-26 | Views: 334 | Downloads: 145
Download Full Article: Click Here
How to cite this article:
Ana María Pérez Soto, María Isabel Vargas Jiménez and Eduardo Chaves González. Neuropsychological predictors of working memory deficits in adolescents with moderate intellectual disability. International Journal of Intellectual Disability. 2025; 6(2): 17-26. DOI: 10.22271/27103889.2025.v6.i2a.72
Other Journals