Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 2, 2025
07:01
Working Memory Training for Older Participants: A Control Group Training Regimen and Initial Intellectual Functioning Assessment
Published on: September 20, 2020
4.7K
Can we enhance working memory? Bias and effectiveness in cognitive training studies.
Jose A Rodas1,2, Afroditi A Asimakopoulou3, Ciara M Greene3
1Escuela de Psicología, Universidad Espíritu Santo, Samborondón, Ecuador. josea.rodasp@gmail.com.
Psychonomic Bulletin & Review
|February 17, 2024
Summary
Cognitive training shows small gains in working memory (WM), but these effects are largely due to similar assessment and training tasks. Fluid intelligence is not improved, though specific executive functions may benefit.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive psychology
- Neuroscience
- Human cognition
Background:
- Cognitive training is proposed to enhance cognitive functions like working memory (WM).
- Concerns exist that observed WM improvements may stem from measurement biases, particularly task overlap between training and assessment.
- The efficacy of cognitive training across various cognitive domains requires rigorous evaluation, controlling for potential biases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To meta-analyze the effects of cognitive training on working memory (WM), fluid intelligence, and executive functions.
- To assess the impact of potential biases, such as task similarity, on reported training outcomes.
- To investigate whether training characteristics influence effectiveness and to evaluate study quality.
Main Methods:
- Conducted a meta-analysis of 52 independent studies involving cognitive training targeting diverse cognitive functions.
- Performed a risk of bias assessment for included studies, focusing on randomization and reporting.
- Controlled for practice effects and analyzed data using meta-regressions to explore moderators of training effectiveness.
Main Results:
- Small overall improvements in WM were observed (SMD = 0.18), significantly inflated when assessment tasks were similar to training tasks (SMD = 1.15).
- No significant improvements in fluid intelligence were found, nor was WM improvement linked to fluid intelligence changes.
- Cognitive training demonstrated effectiveness in improving specific executive functions, independent of training dosage or type.
Conclusions:
- The effectiveness of cognitive training for WM is questionable, with findings potentially driven by measurement bias, specifically task overlap.
- While fluid intelligence remains unaffected, cognitive training may offer benefits for certain executive functions.
- Methodological rigor, including careful task selection and bias assessment, is crucial for accurately evaluating cognitive training efficacy.
Related Concept Videos
01:24Working Memory
166
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...
166
01:30Cognitive Enhancers: Cholinesterase Inhibitors and NMDA Receptor Antagonists
125
Cognitive enhancers, also known as "smart drugs," are substances used to enhance memory, mental alertness, and concentration. These can be natural or synthetic and improve cognition in conditions like Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative diseases. Some common examples include caffeine, amphetamines, methylphenidate, modafinil, arecoline, donepezil, vortioxetine, and piracetam. These enhancers work on the principle of synaptic plasticity and altered circuit function.
125
01:30Information Processing Approach
37
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...
37
01:27Language and Cognition
346
Language serves as a bridge between ideas and communication, influencing how individuals perceive and interact with the world. Psychologists have long debated whether language shapes thought or vice versa. This discussion gained grip with Edward Sapir and Benjamin Lee Whorf in the 1940s, who proposed that language determines thought, a concept known as linguistic determinism. They suggested that the vocabulary and structure of a language influence how its speakers think and perceive reality.
346
01:16Interference and Decay
140
Forgetting is a complex cognitive phenomenon influenced by several factors, among which interference and decay are particularly prominent. These processes explain why individuals often struggle to retrieve specific information from memory, leading to lapses in recall that can be observed in everyday situations.
Interference occurs when competing memories hinder the retrieval of particular information. It can be classified into two types: proactive and retroactive interference. Proactive...
Interference occurs when competing memories hinder the retrieval of particular information. It can be classified into two types: proactive and retroactive interference. Proactive...
140
01:14Role of Cerebellum and Prefrontal Cortex in Memory
430
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...
430