Cargando…

Working memory training involves learning new skills

We present a new framework characterizing training-induced changes in WM as the acquisition of novel cognitive routines akin to learning a new skill. Predictions were tested in three studies analyzing the transfer between WM tasks following WM training. Study 1 reports a meta-analysis establishing s...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Gathercole, Susan E., Dunning, Darren L., Holmes, Joni, Norris, Dennis
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: 2016
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6591133/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31235992
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jml.2018.10.003
_version_ 1783429665760739328
author Gathercole, Susan E.
Dunning, Darren L.
Holmes, Joni
Norris, Dennis
author_facet Gathercole, Susan E.
Dunning, Darren L.
Holmes, Joni
Norris, Dennis
author_sort Gathercole, Susan E.
collection PubMed
description We present a new framework characterizing training-induced changes in WM as the acquisition of novel cognitive routines akin to learning a new skill. Predictions were tested in three studies analyzing the transfer between WM tasks following WM training. Study 1 reports a meta-analysis establishing substantial transfer when trained and untrained tasks shared either a serial recall, complex span or backward span paradigm. Transfer was weaker for serial recall of verbal than visuo-spatial material, suggesting that this paradigm is served by an existing verbal STM system and does not require a new routine. Re-analysis of published WM training data in Study 2 showed that transfer was restricted to tasks sharing properties proposed to require new routines. In a re-analysis of data from four studies, Study 3 demonstrated that transfer was greatest for children with higher fluid cognitive abilities. These findings suggest that development of new routines depends on general cognitive resources and that they can only be applied to other similarly-structured tasks.
format Online
Article
Text
id pubmed-6591133
institution National Center for Biotechnology Information
language English
publishDate 2016
record_format MEDLINE/PubMed
spelling pubmed-65911332019-06-24 Working memory training involves learning new skills Gathercole, Susan E. Dunning, Darren L. Holmes, Joni Norris, Dennis J Mem Lang Article We present a new framework characterizing training-induced changes in WM as the acquisition of novel cognitive routines akin to learning a new skill. Predictions were tested in three studies analyzing the transfer between WM tasks following WM training. Study 1 reports a meta-analysis establishing substantial transfer when trained and untrained tasks shared either a serial recall, complex span or backward span paradigm. Transfer was weaker for serial recall of verbal than visuo-spatial material, suggesting that this paradigm is served by an existing verbal STM system and does not require a new routine. Re-analysis of published WM training data in Study 2 showed that transfer was restricted to tasks sharing properties proposed to require new routines. In a re-analysis of data from four studies, Study 3 demonstrated that transfer was greatest for children with higher fluid cognitive abilities. These findings suggest that development of new routines depends on general cognitive resources and that they can only be applied to other similarly-structured tasks. 2016-09-12 2018-12-01 /pmc/articles/PMC6591133/ /pubmed/31235992 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jml.2018.10.003 Text en http://creativecommons.org/licenses/BY/4.0/ This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/BY/4.0/).
spellingShingle Article
Gathercole, Susan E.
Dunning, Darren L.
Holmes, Joni
Norris, Dennis
Working memory training involves learning new skills
title Working memory training involves learning new skills
title_full Working memory training involves learning new skills
title_fullStr Working memory training involves learning new skills
title_full_unstemmed Working memory training involves learning new skills
title_short Working memory training involves learning new skills
title_sort working memory training involves learning new skills
topic Article
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6591133/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31235992
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jml.2018.10.003
work_keys_str_mv AT gathercolesusane workingmemorytraininginvolveslearningnewskills
AT dunningdarrenl workingmemorytraininginvolveslearningnewskills
AT holmesjoni workingmemorytraininginvolveslearningnewskills
AT norrisdennis workingmemorytraininginvolveslearningnewskills