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N-back training and transfer effects revealed by behavioral responses and EEG
Valentina Pergher1, Benjamin Wittevrongel1, Jos Tournoy2
1Laboratory for Neuro- & Psychophysiology, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
Brain and Behavior
|October 24, 2018
Summary
Cognitive training, specifically N-back working memory (WM) tasks, significantly improved cognitive functions in both young and older adults. Older adults showed greater improvements and broader transfer effects, indicating enhanced cognitive plasticity across the lifespan.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Psychology
- Gerontology
Background:
- Cognitive function declines with age, impacting daily life.
- Cognitive training aims to mitigate age-related cognitive decline.
- The transfer effects of cognitive training on untrained functions remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of N-back working memory (WM) training on trained WM and untrained cognitive functions.
- To assess age-related differences in cognitive plasticity and training benefits.
- To examine the relationship between event-related potentials (ERPs), task difficulty, and behavioral performance.
Main Methods:
- Two groups (young and older adults) participated in either cognitive training (N-back task) or a passive control condition.
- Cognitive tests were administered before and after training to evaluate transfer effects.
- Event-related potentials (ERPs), specifically the P300 component, were analyzed in relation to task difficulty and behavioral outcomes.
Main Results:
- N-back training led to significant improvements in the trained task, with older adults showing stronger gains.
- Both young and older adults demonstrated near- and far-transfer effects to working memory and fluid intelligence.
- Older adults also exhibited a far-transfer effect to attention, alongside age-related differences in spatial memory and attention accuracy.
Conclusions:
- Working memory training is a promising intervention for healthy adults, particularly older individuals.
- The study highlights age-related differences in cognitive plasticity and training-induced benefits.
- N-back training demonstrates efficacy in improving trained tasks and transferring benefits to other cognitive functions.
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