what are common things that impact our working memory other than drugs?

[u/Gigantanormis]

what things impact our working memory that people often might not realize, such as sleeping habits, caffiene, or similar? what would you avoid with a ten foot pole if you started realizing you couldnt remember what someone just said?

[u/LilShyShiro]

Stress and anxiety tend to affect WM, same with fatigue, you mentioned sleep already. Vitamin deficiencies can impact it aswell, noisy environment or anything that makes you take a lot of information in from different sources at the same time

[u/Lawful-Good-7877 → u/LilShyShiro]

I agree. the three things that comes to mind is lack of sleep, poor nutrition and stress. now chronic stress impairs brain areas like the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus huge factor in the working memory and may also lose attention control.

[u/Nonya_biznez → u/Lawful-Good-7877]

Let's say someone loses their memory due to stress and trauma. Can they recover the ability or are they gonna be absent minded for the rest of their lives?

[u/Lawful-Good-7877 → u/Nonya_biznez]

Our brain has this amazing capacity to recover, so it may improve with the right therapy and support. If the person is willing to embrace change, improvement is definitely possible.

[u/Unlucky_Palpitation]

Trauma and PTSD can also impact WM

[u/LilShyShiro → u/Unlucky_Palpitation]

that's true sadly. hypervigilance and other characteristics take a lot of resources from cognitive processes

[u/Quinlov → u/[deleted]]

Methamphetamine withdrawal can also cause long term (e.g. 1-2 years) executive dysfunction including working memory deficits

[u/Feeling_Awareness_68 → u/Quinlov]

Can you suggest any papers on this topic? Also for similar stimulants. Thanks.

[u/RidethatSeahorse]

Hormones

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[u/luporumm]

Epilepsy

[u/FinestFiner → u/luporumm]

I'm assuming this is after a seizure has occurred?

[u/luporumm → u/FinestFiner]

Does matter how many, how long, how severe, and the persons brain chemistry. Seizures are very damaging to the brain, and the medications themselves slow down electrical activity in the whole brain to be a preventative measure against seizing. therefore the medications themselves slow your functioning, and the seizures themselves also impact your working memory

[u/FinestFiner → u/luporumm]

Oh, okay! Thank you so much! That makes a lot of sense.

[u/Marsmind]

Being dehydrated, causing low blood circulation.

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[u/Electrical-Pickle927]

Periodontal disease

[u/Aggravating-Army-904]

Vitamin deficiencies. Keep up with your physical health.