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The Mental Models Training App: Enhancing verbal reasoning through a cognitive training mobile application.

Robert A Cortes¹, Adam B Weinberger¹, Adam E Green^1,2

¹Department of Psychology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, United States.

Frontiers in Psychology

|March 27, 2023

Summary

This study found that a Mental Models Training App improved verbal deductive reasoning skills in adults. However, the gains were not superior to adaptive practice alone, suggesting reasoning practice is key.

Keywords:

cognitive enhancement cognitive training mental models mobile application reasoning translational research

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Area of Science:

Cognitive Psychology
Neuroscience
Human Cognition

Background:

Mental Model Theory (MMT) posits that reasoning relies on visuospatial representations.
MMT suggests building mental models enhances deductive reasoning accuracy.
Empirical evidence for training mental modeling to improve reasoning was lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

To empirically test if training mental modeling ability improves deductive reasoning.
To investigate the causal role of specific training components using a mobile app.
To compare a novel cognitive training app against control conditions.

Main Methods:

A between-subjects experiment with 301 adults compared a Mental Models Training App to three control groups.
The app required participants to solve reasoning problems using a mental modeling tool.
Control conditions included passive, active reasoning practice, and spatial alphabetization tasks.

Main Results:

The Mental Models Training App improved verbal deductive reasoning performance compared to a passive control.
Improvements were observed both during and after the training intervention.
Training effects were not significantly greater than active control conditions (adaptive practice).

Conclusions:

The Mental Models Training App can enhance verbal deductive reasoning.
Directly training mental modeling did not yield benefits beyond adaptive reasoning practice.
Future research should explore long-term effects and transferability to other reasoning types.