Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 31, 2026
07:01
Working Memory Training for Older Participants: A Control Group Training Regimen and Initial Intellectual Functioning Assessment
Published on: September 20, 2020
5.4K
Taking working memory training from the laboratory into schools
Joni Holmes1, Susan Elizabeth Gathercole1
1MRC, Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, Cambridge, UK.
Educational Psychology
|October 24, 2015
Summary
Teacher-led working memory training significantly improved children's cognitive skills and academic performance in maths and English. These findings highlight the effectiveness of in-school working memory interventions for robust educational gains.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Educational Psychology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Adaptive working memory training has demonstrated efficacy in controlled trials.
- Implementing such training within school settings by teachers is less explored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of teacher-administered working memory training in a school environment.
- To assess the impact of this training on both working memory skills and academic achievement.
Main Methods:
- Two field trials involving children aged 8-11 years were conducted.
- Trial 1 included 22 children; Trial 2 involved 50 children with low academic performance, matched with a control group.
- Teachers administered the working memory training program to their pupils.
Main Results:
- Children in Trial 1 showed significant improvements in trained and untrained working memory tasks.
- Children in Trial 2 demonstrated comparable improvements on trained tasks and significantly greater academic progress in maths and English.
- Effect sizes were comparable to those from research studies.
Conclusions:
- Teacher-administered working memory training yields generalized and robust improvements in cognitive abilities.
- This approach leads to educationally significant gains in academic performance, particularly in core subjects.
Related Concept Videos
01:24Working Memory
1.2K
Working memory refers to a combination of components, including short-term memory and attention, that allow an individual to hold information temporarily as we perform cognitive tasks. It is an essential cognitive function that enables the execution of complex tasks such as problem-solving, comprehension, and reasoning. Unlike short-term memory, which simply involves the storage of information for a brief period, working memory involves the active manipulation and processing of this...
1.2K
01:30Information Processing Approach
791
The information-processing theory of cognitive development centers on fundamental mental processes, including attention, memory, and problem-solving skills. Researchers in this field examine how cognitive abilities, such as working memory, evolve and influence children's overall development. Studies indicate that children with stronger working memory tend to excel in reading comprehension, math, and problem-solving compared to peers with less efficient memory skills. Low working memory is...
791
01:22Chunking and Rehearsal in Sensory Memory
736
Improving short-term memory can be achieved through techniques like chunking and rehearsal. Chunking involves organizing information into larger, more manageable units. This technique is particularly useful for information that exceeds the typical memory span of between five and nine items. For instance, logging into an online account with a password like "ta89vq0179gz" involves grouping letters and numbers into three chunks—ta89, vq01, and 79gz. It makes large amounts of...
736
01:14Role of Cerebellum and Prefrontal Cortex in Memory
1.5K
The cerebellum, while traditionally associated with motor control, also plays a crucial role in memory, particularly in procedural memory, which involves learning motor tasks that become automatic through repetition. For example, studies have shown that when the cerebellum is damaged, individuals or animals lose the ability to learn conditioned motor responses, such as the conditioned eye-blink response in classical conditioning experiments with rabbits. This study demonstrates the...
1.5K
01:26Higher Mental Functions of Brain: Learning and Memory
2.3K
Memory is one of the most vital higher mental functions of the brain. Memory is closely related to learning because it enables us to retain information and experiences from our past to use them in our present life. It also helps us to remember facts, events, and skills, such as riding a bike or swimming. There are two types of memory — declarative memory, which involves memorizing facts or events, and procedural memory, which enables us to remember how to do something like writing or...
2.3K
01:07Elaborative Rehearsals
520
Elaborative rehearsal is a crucial cognitive strategy that strengthens information encoding in long-term memory by making meaningful connections between new data and pre-existing knowledge. This approach contrasts with maintenance rehearsal, which involves simple repetition without delving into the significance of the information. While maintenance rehearsal might temporarily keep information active in short-term memory, it is less effective for long-term retention.
The effectiveness of...
The effectiveness of...
520