Working Memory, Reasoning, and Task Switching Training: Transfer Effects, Limitations, and Great Expectations?

PLoS One. 2015 Nov 10;10(11):e0142169. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0142169. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

Although some studies have shown that cognitive training can produce improvements to untrained cognitive domains (far transfer), many others fail to show these effects, especially when it comes to improving fluid intelligence. The current study was designed to overcome several limitations of previous training studies by incorporating training expectancy assessments, an active control group, and "Mind Frontiers," a video game-based mobile program comprised of six adaptive, cognitively demanding training tasks that have been found to lead to increased scores in fluid intelligence (Gf) tests. We hypothesize that such integrated training may lead to broad improvements in cognitive abilities by targeting aspects of working memory, executive function, reasoning, and problem solving. Ninety participants completed 20 hour-and-a-half long training sessions over four to five weeks, 45 of whom played Mind Frontiers and 45 of whom completed visual search and change detection tasks (active control). After training, the Mind Frontiers group improved in working memory n-back tests, a composite measure of perceptual speed, and a composite measure of reaction time in reasoning tests. No training-related improvements were found in reasoning accuracy or other working memory tests, nor in composite measures of episodic memory, selective attention, divided attention, and multi-tasking. Perceived self-improvement in the tested abilities did not differ between groups. A general expectancy difference in problem-solving was observed between groups, but this perceived benefit did not correlate with training-related improvement. In summary, although these findings provide modest evidence regarding the efficacy of an integrated cognitive training program, more research is needed to determine the utility of Mind Frontiers as a cognitive training tool.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Cognition
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Memory, Short-Term*
  • Task Performance and Analysis*
  • Young Adult

Grants and funding

This research was supported by the Office of Naval Research (N00014-12-C-0360 to AFK). PLB was supported by a National Science Foundation Neuroengineering IGERT Fellowship (grant no. 0903622) and a Beckman Institute Graduate Fellowship. NMW was supported by a Beckman Institute Postdoctoral Fellowship. Charles Dickens is employed by Aptima, Inc. and Alexandra Geyer was employed by Aptima, Inc. during the development and implementation of the current study. Aptima, Inc. provided support in the form of salaries for authors CD and AG, research materials to develop the Mind Frontiers game application (including the software used to record gameplay and the hardware used by the Mind Frontiers participants during the training sessions), and technical assistance for the Mind Frontiers training games (CD), but did not have any additional role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. The specific roles of these authors are articulated in the ‘author contributions’ section.