Understanding of working memory in individuals with intellectual disabilities based on behavior and brain activity: Toward the development of effective educational support methods

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K14303
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 09060:Special needs education-related
• Research Institution: Tokoha University
• Principal Investigator: Oi Yuhei 常葉大学, 教育学部, 講師 (40802997)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 特別支援教育 / 実験系心理学 / 知的障害 / 神経発達障害 / ワーキングメモリ / 短期記憶 / 認知神経科学 / NIRS

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Working memory is a system that maintains information temporarily for use in ongoing cognitive processes. The purpose of this study was to investigate working memory in individuals with intellectual disabilities from both behavior and brain activity, and to examine educational support methods based on the findings obtained. Although the progress in this study was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, this study was able to advance the understanding of some aspects of working memory characteristics in individuals with intellectual disabilities and to conduct practical studies that link the research findings to actual educational support.

Free Research Field

特別支援教育、障害児心理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究では、集団を対象とした知的障害児・者のワーキングメモリ特性に関する検討を行うとともに、個人を対象とした実践的な検討として、ワーキングメモリに関与する脳活動の計測を含む機能評価に基づいた教育支援方法の提案とその評価を行った。これにより、知的障害児・者のワーキングメモリ特性に関する基礎的な理解を進める研究知見と、エビデンスに基づいた教育支援に関する実践的な研究知見を得ることができており、本研究の成果には学術的にも社会的にも一定の意義があると考えられる。