Working memory training improves visual short-term memory capacity

Schwarb, Hillary; Nail, Jayde; Schumacher, Eric H.

doi:10.1007/s00426-015-0648-y

Cited by 55Cognitive Abilities and TestingNeural and Behavioral Psychology StudiesCognitive Functions and Memory

Working memory training improves visual short-term memory capacity

Schwarb, Hillary, Nail, Jayde, Schumacher, Eric H.·2016·Psychological Research

DOI 10.1007/s00426-015-0648-y

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Abstract

Since antiquity, philosophers, theologians, and scientists have been interested in human memory. However, researchers today are still working to understand the capabilities, boundaries, and architecture. While the storage capabilities of long-term memory are seemingly unlimited (Bahrick, J Exp Psychol 113:1-2, 1984), working memory, or the ability to maintain and manipulate information held in memory, seems to have stringent capacity limits (e.g., Cowan, Behav Brain Sci 24:87-185, 2001). Individual differences, however, do exist and these differences can often predict performance on a wide variety of tasks (cf. Engle What is working-memory capacity? 297-314, 2001). Recently, researchers have promoted the enticing possibility that simple behavioral training can expand the limits of working memory which indeed may also lead to improvements on other cognitive processes as well (cf. Morrison and Chein, Psychol Bull Rev 18:46-60 2011). However, initial investigations across a wide variety of cognitive functions have produced mixed results regarding the transferability of training-related improvements. Across two experiments, the present research focuses on the benefit of working memory training on visual short-term memory capacity-a cognitive process that has received little attention in the training literature. Data reveal training-related improvement of global measures of visual short-term memory as well as of measures of the independent sub-processes that contribute to capacity (Awh et al., Psychol Sci 18(7):622-628, 2007). These results suggest that the ability to inhibit irrelevant information within and between trials is enhanced via n-back training allowing for selective improvement on untrained tasks. Additionally, we highlight a potential limitation of the standard adaptive training procedure and propose a modified design to ensure variability in the training environment.

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Asymmetry-like patterns have been suggested across studies.
“asymmetry-like patterns have been suggested across studies (Cai et al., 2022; Schwarb et al., 2016)”
From The asymmetry of working memory training transfer: A systematic review and meta-analysis (2026) · cites this paper as Schwarb et al., 2016
Transfer to sequencing and/or complex WM tasks has been reported by some N-back training studies but not others.
“Transfer to sequencing and/or complex WM tasks has been reported by some57–63, but not other N-back training studies58,64–70.”
From Near transfer to an unrelated N-back task mediates the effect of N-back working memory training on matrix reasoning (2022) · cites this paper as [61]
Other research groups have suggested that inhibition of irrelevant information in working memory may be the locus of n-back training.
“Other research groups have also suggested that the ability to inhibit irrelevant information in working memory may be the locus of n-back training (Jaeggi et al., 2014;Schwarb et al., 2015).”
From A simultaneous examination of two forms of working memory training: Evidence for near transfer only (2016) · cites this paper as Schwarb et al., 2015

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“1A, left panel), whereas updating tasks require continuous monitoring and manipulation of dynamically maintained information (Cohen et al., 1997; Schwarb et al., 2016; Fig.”
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Authors: Schwarb, H., Nail, J., & Schumacher, E. H.
Affiliations: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (US)
Georgia Institute of Technology (US)
Corresponding author: Schwarb, Hillary
ORCID: Schwarb, Hillary
Schumacher, Eric H.
Venue: Psychological Research
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published: 2015-02-06
Volume: 80
Issue: 1
Pages: 128-148
ISSN: 0033-3026 (ISSN-L)
0340-0727
1430-2772
DOI: 10.1007/s00426-015-0648-y
OpenAlex: W2060962062
Cited by: 55
References: 92
Citations by year: 2026: 2 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 5
FWCI: 6.53
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
Locations: Psychological Research (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics: Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Abilities and Testing
Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Functions and Memory
Keywords: working memory training, visual short-term memory, memory capacity, individual differences, transfer of training, inhibition of irrelevant information
MeSH terms: Adolescent, Adult, Attention, Cognition, Female, Humans, Learning, Male, Memory, Short-Term, Photic Stimulation, Task Performance and Analysis, Transfer, Psychology, Visual Perception, Young Adult

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Working memory training improves visual short-term memory capacity

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