N-back Versus Complex Span Working Memory Training
Open accessAbstract
Working memory (WM) is the ability to maintain and manipulate task-relevant information in the absence of sensory input. While its improvement through training is of great interest, the degree to which WM training transfers to untrained WM tasks (near transfer) and other untrained cognitive skills (far transfer) remains debated and the mechanism(s) underlying transfer are unclear. Here we hypothesized that a critical feature of dual n-back training is its reliance on maintaining relational information in WM. In Experiment 1, using an individual differences approach, we found evidence that performance on an n-back task was predicted by performance on a measure of relational WM (i.e., WM for vertical spatial relationships independent of absolute spatial locations); whereas the same was not true for a complex span WM task. In Experiment 2, we tested the idea that reliance on relational WM is critical to produce transfer from n-back but not complex span task training. Participants completed adaptive training on either a dual n-back task, a symmetry span task, or on a non-WM active control task. We found evidence of near transfer for the dual n-back group; however, far transfer to a measure of fluid intelligence did not emerge. Recording EEG during a separate WM transfer task, we examined group-specific, training-related changes in alpha power, which are proposed to be sensitive to WM demands and top-down modulation of WM. Results indicated that the dual n-back group showed significantly greater frontal alpha power after training compared to before training, more so than both other groups. However, we found no evidence of improvement on measures of relational WM for the dual n-back group, suggesting that near transfer may not be dependent on relational WM. These results suggest that dual n-back and complex span task training may differ in their effectiveness to elicit near transfer as well as in the underlying neural changes they facilitate.
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
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 [65]
Experiment 2’s Results and General Discussion (page unavailable) report no significant transfer from dual n-back training to the Ospan complex-span task, supporting the ‘not others’ portion. The paper discusses cross-modality transfer in prior work, but the passages do not establish that other N-back training studies found transfer to sequencing or complex WM tasks. (LLM, conf=0.84)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredTraining on a specific working memory task can improve performance on untrained working memory tasks.
“WM training on a given task can transfer to improvements in untrained working memory tasks (Blacker et al. 2017; Lilienthal et al. 2013; Chein and Morrison 2010; Borella et al. 2010)”
From Divergent Research Methods Limit Understanding of Working Memory Training (2020) · cites this paper as Blacker et al. 2017
Only three studies have tested transfer from complex span training to n-back.
“Only three studies have tested transfer from complex span training to n-back.”
From Are Working Memory Training Effects Paradigm-Specific? (2019) · cites this paper as Blacker et al. (2017)
Blacker et al. (2017) found that training on a symmetry span task did not improve performance on an object n-back task.
“Blacker et al. (2017) found that training on a symmetry span task did not improve performance on an object n-back task.”
From Are Working Memory Training Effects Paradigm-Specific? (2019) · cites this paper as Blacker et al. (2017)
The present findings add to evidence for lack of transfer across complex span tasks and contrast with reports of transfer across different memory items and distraction activities.
“The present findings both add to other evidence for lack of transfer across complex span tasks (Minear et al., 2016; Blacker et al., 2017) and stand in contrast to other reports of transfer across different memory items and interpolated distraction activities (e.g., Harrison et al., 2013; von Bastian et al., 2013; Henry et al., 2014; Richmond et al., 2014).”
From Are Working Memory Training Effects Paradigm-Specific? (2019) · cites this paper as Blacker et al., 2017
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Cites
Brainard, D. H. (1997) · Spatial Vision · doi:10.1163/156856897x00357 · Cited by 19,308 · see citing works
Miyake, A., Friedman, N. P., Emerson, M. J., Witzki, A. H., Howerter, A., & Wager, T. D. (2000) · Cognitive Psychology · doi:10.1006/cogp.1999.0734 · Cited by 15,798 · see citing works
The VideoToolbox software for visual psychophysics: transforming numbers into movies
Pelli, D. G. (1997) · Spatial Vision · doi:10.1163/156856897x00366 · Cited by 11,110 · see citing works
Oostenveld, R., Fries, P., Maris, E., & Schoffelen, J.-M. (2011) · Computational Intelligence and Neuroscience · doi:10.1155/2011/156869 · Cited by 10,323 · see citing works
Nonparametric statistical testing of EEG- and MEG-data
Maris, E., & Oostenveld, R. (2007) · Journal of Neuroscience Methods · doi:10.1016/j.jneumeth.2007.03.024 · Cited by 8,496 · see citing works
Nonparametric permutation tests for functional neuroimaging: A primer with examples
Nichols, T. E., & Holmes, A. P. (2002) · Human Brain Mapping · doi:10.1002/hbm.1058 · Cited by 6,256 · see citing works
The capacity of visual working memory for features and conjunctions
Luck, S. J., & Vogel, E. K. (1997) · Nature · doi:10.1038/36846 · Cited by 4,053 · see citing works
EEG alpha oscillations: The inhibition–timing hypothesis
Klimesch, W., Sauseng, P., & Hanslmayr, S. (2006) · Brain Research Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.brainresrev.2006.06.003 · Cited by 3,890 · see citing works
Testing the efficiency and independence of attentional networks
Fan, J., McCandliss, B. D., Sommer, T., Raz, A., & Posner, M. I. (2002) · Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience · doi:10.1162/089892902317361886 · Cited by 3,717 · cited 1× · see citing works
“Additional Assessment Tasks Participants also completed two additional tasks before and after training: a change detection task (Luck and Vogel 1997) and the Attentional Network Test (Fan et al. 2002).”
Be smart, exercise your heart: Exercise effects on brain and cognition
Hillman, C. H., Erickson, K. I., & Kramer, A. F. (2008) · Nature Reviews Neuroscience · doi:10.1038/nrn2298 · Cited by 3,563 · see citing works
Costs of a predictible switch between simple cognitive tasks.
Rogers, R. D., & Monsell, S. (1995) · Journal of Experimental Psychology: General · doi:10.1037/0096-3445.124.2.207 · Cited by 3,170 · see citing works
Working memory, short-term memory, and general fluid intelligence: A latent-variable approach.
Engle, R. W., Tuholski, S. W., Laughlin, J. E., & Conway, A. R. A. (1999) · Journal of Experimental Psychology: General · doi:10.1037/0096-3445.128.3.309 · Cited by 3,078 · see citing works
The Neuroscience of Mindfulness Meditation
Tang, Y.-Y., Hölzel, B. K., & Posner, M. I. (2015) · Nature reviews. Neuroscience · doi:10.1038/nrn3916 · Cited by 2,889 · see citing works
Working memory span tasks: A methodological review and user’s guide
Conway, A. R. A., Kane, M. J., Bunting, M. F., Hambrick, D. Z., Wilhelm, O., & Engle, R. W. (2005) · Psychonomic Bulletin & Review · doi:10.3758/bf03196772 · Cited by 2,882 · see citing works
Attention regulation and monitoring in meditation
Lutz, A., Slagter, H. A., Dunne, J. D., & Davidson, R. J. (2008) · Trends in Cognitive Sciences · doi:10.1016/j.tics.2008.01.005 · Cited by 2,659 · see citing works
The Oxford Handbook of Event-Related Potential Components
(2011) · doi:10.1093/oxfordhb/9780195374148.001.0001 · Cited by 2,263 · see citing works
Improving fluid intelligence with training on working memory
Jaeggi, S. M., Buschkuehl, M., Jonides, J., & Perrig, W. J. (2008) · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1073/pnas.0801268105 · Cited by 2,187 · see citing works
Spectral Analysis for Physical Applications
Percival, D. B., & Walden, A. T. (1993) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511622762 · Cited by 2,148 · see citing works
Computerized training of working memory in children with ADHD – a randomized, controlled trial
Klingberg, T., Fernell, E., Olesen, P. J., Johnson, M., Gustafsson, P., Dahlström, K., Gillberg, C. G., Forssberg, H., & Westerberg, H. (2005) · Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry · doi:10.1097/00004583-200502000-00010 · Cited by 1,949 · cited 1× · see citing works
“The most commonly used training task is a variant of the single or dual n-back task, but others have used complex span WM tasks (Kane et al. 2004; Redick et al. 2012), or commercialized programs like Cogmed (e.g., Holmes et al. 2009; Klingberg et al. 2005).”
Kane, M. J., Hambrick, D. Z., Tuholski, S. W., Wilhelm, O., Payne, T. W., & Engle, R. W. (2004) · Journal of Experimental Psychology: General · doi:10.1037/0096-3445.133.2.189 · Cited by 1,679 · see citing works
Carpenter, P. A., Just, M. A., & Shell, P. (1990) · Psychological Review · doi:10.1037/0033-295x.97.3.404 · Cited by 1,648 · see citing works
Capacity limit of visual short-term memory in human posterior parietal cortex
Todd, J. J., & Marois, R. (2004) · Nature · doi:10.1038/nature02466 · Cited by 1,477 · see citing works
Chiesa, A., Calati, R., & Serretti, A. (2011) · Clinical Psychology Review · doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2010.11.003 · Cited by 1,295 · see citing works
Jensen, O. B. (2002) · Cerebral Cortex · doi:10.1093/cercor/12.8.877 · Cited by 1,206 · see citing works
Do “brain-training” programs work?
Simons, D. J., Boot, W. R., Charness, N., Gathercole, S. E., Chabris, C. F., Hambrick, D. Z., & Stine-Morrow, E. A. L. (2016) · Psychological Science in the Public Interest · doi:10.1177/1529100616661983 · Cited by 1,183 · see citing works
Is working memory training effective?
Shipstead, Z., Redick, T. S., & Engle, R. W. (2012) · Psychological Bulletin · doi:10.1037/a0027473 · Cited by 1,101 · see citing works
The concurrent validity of the <i>N</i> -back task as a working memory measure
Jaeggi, S. M., Buschkuehl, M., Perrig, W. J., & Meier, B. (2010) · Memory · doi:10.1080/09658211003702171 · Cited by 981 · see citing works
Cognitive control, hierarchy, and the rostro–caudal organization of the frontal lobes
Badre, D. (2008) · Trends in Cognitive Sciences · doi:10.1016/j.tics.2008.02.004 · Cited by 980 · see citing works
Adaptive training leads to sustained enhancement of poor working memory in children
Holmes, J., Gathercole, S. E., & Dunning, D. L. (2009) · Developmental Science · doi:10.1111/j.1467-7687.2009.00848.x · Cited by 961 · see citing works
Roux, F., & Uhlhaas, P. J. (2013) · Trends in Cognitive Sciences · doi:10.1016/j.tics.2013.10.010 · Cited by 865 · see citing works
A shift of visual spatial attention is selectively associated with human EEG alpha activity
Sauseng, P., Klimesch, W., Stadler, W., Schabus, M., Doppelmayr, M. M., Hanslmayr, S., Gruber, W. R., & Birbaumer, N. (2005) · European Journal of Neuroscience · doi:10.1111/j.1460-9568.2005.04482.x · Cited by 847 · see citing works
SAUSENG, P., KLIMESCH, W., SCHABUS, M., & DOPPELMAYR, M. (2005) · International Journal of Psychophysiology · doi:10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2005.03.018 · Cited by 814 · see citing works
A theoretical framework for the study of adult cognitive plasticity
Lövdén, M., Bäckman, L., Lindenberger, U., Schaefer, S., & Schmiedek, F. (2010) · Psychological Bulletin · doi:10.1037/a0020080 · Cited by 731 · see citing works
Morrison, A. B., & Chein, J. M. (2011) · Psychonomic Bulletin & Review · doi:10.3758/s13423-010-0034-0 · Cited by 723 · see citing works
Kelly, S. P., Lalor, E. C., Reilly, R. B., & Foxe, J. J. (2006) · Journal of Neurophysiology · doi:10.1152/jn.01234.2005 · Cited by 715 · see citing works
Verbal Working Memory Load Affects Regional Brain Activation as Measured by PET
Jonides, J., Schumacher, E. H., Smith, E. E., Lauber, E. J., Awh, E., Minoshima, S., & Koeppe, R. A. (1997) · Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience · doi:10.1162/jocn.1997.9.4.462 · Cited by 715 · see citing works
Improving fluid intelligence with training on working memory: a meta-analysis
Au, J., Sheehan, E., Tsai, N., Duncan, G. J., Buschkuehl, M., & Jaeggi, S. M. (2015) · Psychonomic Bulletin & Review · doi:10.3758/s13423-014-0699-x · Cited by 671 · cited 3× · see citing works
“…many times (e.g., Jaeggi et al. 2014; Jausovec and Jausovec 2012; Rudebeck et al. 2012; Stephenson and Halpern 2013; for a meta-analysis see Au et al. 2015), others have failed to replicate this effect (e.g., Redick et al. 2013; Thompson et al. 2013; for a review see Shipstead et al. 2012).”
Boot, W. R., Simons, D. J., Stothart, C., & Stutts, C. (2013) · Perspectives on Psychological Science · doi:10.1177/1745691613491271 · Cited by 670 · see citing works
Causal role of the prefrontal cortex in top-down modulation of visual processing and working memory
Zanto, T. P., Rubens, M. T., Thangavel, A., & Gazzaley, A. H. (2011) · Nature Neuroscience · doi:10.1038/nn.2773 · Cited by 661 · see citing works
Redick, T. S., Shipstead, Z., Harrison, T. L., Hicks, K. L., Fried, D. E., Hambrick, D. Z., Kane, M. J., & Engle, R. W. (2013) · Journal of Experimental Psychology: General · doi:10.1037/a0029082 · Cited by 617 · see citing works
Alpha Oscillations Serve to Protect Working Memory Maintenance against Anticipated Distracters
Bonnefond, M., & Jensen, O. B. (2012) · Current Biology · doi:10.1016/j.cub.2012.08.029 · Cited by 580 · see citing works
Jaeggi, S. M., Studer-Luethi, B., Buschkuehl, M., Su, Y.-F., Jonides, J., & Perrig, W. J. (2010) · Intelligence · doi:10.1016/j.intell.2010.09.001 · Cited by 509 · see citing works
Jokisch, D., & Jensen, O. B. (2007) · Journal of Neuroscience · doi:10.1523/jneurosci.5399-06.2007 · Cited by 508 · see citing works
Do Action Video Games Improve Perception and Cognition?
Boot, W. R., Blakely, D. P., & Simons, D. J. (2011) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2011.00226 · Cited by 472 · see citing works
The association value of random shapes.
Vanderplas, J. M., & Garvin, E. A. (1959) · Journal of Experimental Psychology · doi:10.1037/h0048723 · Cited by 470 · see citing works
Measuring Working Memory Capacity With Automated Complex Span Tasks
Redick, T. S., Broadway, J. M., Meier, M. E., Kuriakose, P. S., Unsworth, N., Kane, M. J., & Engle, R. W. (2012) · European Journal of Psychological Assessment · doi:10.1027/1015-5759/a000123 · Cited by 457 · see citing works
The role of individual differences in cognitive training and transfer
Jaeggi, S. M., Buschkuehl, M., Shah, P., & Jonides, J. (2014) · Memory & Cognition · doi:10.3758/s13421-013-0364-z · Cited by 432 · see citing works
Working memory plasticity in old age: practice gain, transfer, and maintenance
Li, S.-C., Schmiedek, F., Huxhold, O., Röcke, C., Smith, J., & Lindenberger, U. (2008) · Psychology and Aging · doi:10.1037/a0014343 · Cited by 369 · see citing works
Chein, J. M., & Morrison, A. B. (2010) · Psychonomic Bulletin & Review · doi:10.3758/pbr.17.2.193 · Cited by 362 · see citing works
Effects of video-game play on information processing: a meta-analytic investigation
Powers, K. L., Brooks, P. J., Aldrich, N. J., Palladino, M. A., & Alfieri, L. (2013) · Psychonomic Bulletin & Review · doi:10.3758/s13423-013-0418-z · Cited by 348 · cited 1× · see citing works
“N-back and complex span tasks, while both used to measure WM, have been shown to be only weakly correlated with one another (for a meta-analysis see, Redick and Lindsey 2013).”
The validity of d prime as a working memory index: Results from the “Bergen n -back task”
Haatveit, B. C., Sundet, K. S., Hugdahl, K., Ueland, T., Melle, I. S., & Andreassen, O. A. (2010) · Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology · doi:10.1080/13803391003596421 · Cited by 314 · see citing works
Complex span and n-back measures of working memory: A meta-analysis
Redick, T. S., & Lindsey, D. R. B. (2013) · Psychonomic Bulletin & Review · doi:10.3758/s13423-013-0453-9 · Cited by 305 · see citing works
Non-invasive Human Brain Stimulation in Cognitive Neuroscience: A Primer
Parkin, B., Ekhtiari, H., & Walsh, V. (2015) · Neuron · doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2015.07.032 · Cited by 274 · see citing works
Haegens, S., Osipova, D. V., Oostenveld, R., & Jensen, O. B. (2009) · Human Brain Mapping · doi:10.1002/hbm.20842 · Cited by 273 · see citing works
Alpha-Band Phase Synchrony Is Related to Activity in the Fronto-Parietal Adaptive Control Network
Sadaghiani, S., Scheeringa, R., Lehongre, K., Morillon, B., Giraud, A., D’Esposito, M., & Kleinschmidt, A. K. (2012) · Journal of Neuroscience · doi:10.1523/jneurosci.1358-12.2012 · Cited by 264 · see citing works
Working memory training and transfer in older adults.
Richmond, L. L., Morrison, A. B., Chein, J. M., & Olson, I. R. (2011) · Psychology and Aging · doi:10.1037/a0023631 · Cited by 257 · see citing works
The topography of alpha-band activity tracks the content of spatial working memory
Foster, J. J., Sutterer, D., Serences, J. T., Vogel, E. K., & Awh, E. (2015) · Journal of Neurophysiology · doi:10.1152/jn.00860.2015 · Cited by 235 · see citing works
Etchells, P. J., Benton, C. P., Ludwig, C. J. H., & Gilchrist, I. D. (2011) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2011.00115 · Cited by 234 · see citing works
Jaeggi, S. M., Seewer, R., Nirkko, A. C., Eckstein, D., Schroth, G., Groner, R., & Gutbrod, K. (2003) · NeuroImage · doi:10.1016/s1053-8119(03)00098-3 · Cited by 211 · see citing works
Working memory training does not improve intelligence in healthy young adults
Chooi, W.-T., & Thompson, L. A. (2012) · Intelligence · doi:10.1016/j.intell.2012.07.004 · Cited by 209 · see citing works
Failure of Working Memory Training to Enhance Cognition or Intelligence
Thompson, T. W., Waskom, M. L., Garel, K.-L. A., Cardenas-Iniguez, C., Reynolds, G. O., Winter, R., Chang, P., Pollard, K., Lala, N., Alvarez, G. A., et al. (2013) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0063614 · Cited by 208 · see citing works
Kundu, B., Sutterer, D. W., Emrich, S. M., & Postle, B. R. (2013) · The Journal of Neuroscience · doi:10.1523/jneurosci.5565-12.2013 · Cited by 161 · see citing works
Working memory training: Improving intelligence – Changing brain activity
Jaušovec, N., & Jaušovec, K. (2012) · Brain and Cognition · doi:10.1016/j.bandc.2012.02.007 · Cited by 142 · see citing works
Prefrontal Dynamics Underlying Rapid Instructed Task Learning Reverse with Practice
Cole, M. W., Bagic, A. I., Kass, R. E., & Schneider, W. (2010) · Journal of Neuroscience · doi:10.1523/jneurosci.1662-10.2010 · Cited by 139 · see citing works
Libby, L. A., Hannula, D. E., & Ranganath, C. (2014) · Journal of Neuroscience · doi:10.1523/jneurosci.0655-14.2014 · Cited by 130 · see citing works
Hits and misses: leveraging tDCS to advance cognitive research
Berryhill, M. E. (2014) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00800 · Cited by 128 · see citing works
Schneiders, J. A., Opitz, B., Krick, C. M., & Mecklinger, A. (2011) · Cerebral Cortex · doi:10.1093/cercor/bhr037 · Cited by 120 · see citing works
Neural effects of short-term training on working memory
Buschkuehl, M., Hernandez-Garcia, L., Jaeggi, S. M., Bernard, J. A., & Jonides, J. (2014) · Cognitive, Affective, & Behavioral Neuroscience · doi:10.3758/s13415-013-0244-9 · Cited by 117 · see citing works
McKendrick, R. D., Ayaz, H., Olmstead, R., & Parasuraman, R. (2013) · NeuroImage · doi:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2013.05.103 · Cited by 115 · see citing works
Intensive Working Memory Training Produces Functional Changes in Large-scale Frontoparietal Networks
Thompson, T. W., Waskom, M., & Gabrieli, J. D. E. (2016) · Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience · doi:10.1162/jocn_a_00916 · Cited by 115 · see citing works
Colom, R., Román, F. J., Abad, F. J., Shih, P. C., Privado, J., Froufe, M., Escorial, S., Martínez, K., Burgaleta, M., Quiroga, M. A., et al. (2013) · Intelligence · doi:10.1016/j.intell.2013.09.002 · Cited by 112 · see citing works
Phase-Locking and Amplitude Modulations of EEG Alpha:
Herrmann, C. S., Senkowski, D., & Röttger, S. (2004) · Experimental Psychology (formerly Zeitschrift für Experimentelle Psychologie) · doi:10.1027/1618-3169.51.4.311 · Cited by 104 · see citing works
The Rostro-Caudal Axis of Frontal Cortex Is Sensitive to the Domain of Stimulus Information
Bahlmann, J., Blumenfeld, R. S., & D’Esposito, M. (2014) · Cerebral Cortex · doi:10.1093/cercor/bht419 · Cited by 97 · see citing works
Improved matrix reasoning is limited to training on tasks with a visuospatial component
Stephenson, C. L., & Halpern, D. F. (2013) · Intelligence · doi:10.1016/j.intell.2013.05.006 · Cited by 95 · see citing works
Rudebeck, S. R., Bor, D., Ormond, A., O’Reilly, J. X., & Lee, A. C. H. (2012) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0050431 · Cited by 95 · see citing works
Vartanian, O. A., Jobidon, M.-E., Bouak, F., Nakashima, A., Smith, I., Lam, Q., & Cheung, B. (2013) · Neuroscience · doi:10.1016/j.neuroscience.2012.12.060 · Cited by 92 · see citing works
The effect of memory load on cortical activity in the spatial working memory circuit
Leung, H., Seelig, D., & Gore, J. C. (2004) · Cognitive Affective & Behavioral Neuroscience · doi:10.3758/cabn.4.4.553 · Cited by 78 · see citing works
Encoding strategy and not visual working memory capacity correlates with intelligence
Cusack, R., Lehmann, M., Veldsman, M., & Mitchell, D. J. (2009) · Psychonomic Bulletin & Review · doi:10.3758/pbr.16.4.641 · Cited by 77 · see citing works
Transfer after Dual <i>n</i> -Back Training Depends on Striatal Activation Change
Salminen, T., Kühn, S., Frensch, P. A., & Schubert, T. (2016) · The Journal of Neuroscience · doi:10.1523/jneurosci.2305-15.2016 · Cited by 70 · see citing works
Encoding strategy accounts for individual differences in change detection measures of VSTM
Linke, A. C., Vicente-Grabovetsky, A., Mitchell, D. J., & Cusack, R. (2010) · Neuropsychologia · doi:10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2010.11.034 · Cited by 69 · see citing works
Selecting features for BCI control based on a covert spatial attention paradigm
van Gerven, M. A. J., Bahramisharif, A., Heskes, T., & Jensen, O. B. (2009) · Neural Networks · doi:10.1016/j.neunet.2009.06.004 · Cited by 50 · see citing works
Keeping track of where we are: Spatial working memory in navigation
Blacker, K. J., Weisberg, S. M., Newcombe, N. S., & Courtney, S. M. (2017) · Visual Cognition · doi:10.1080/13506285.2017.1322652 · Cited by 50 · see citing works
Self-citationSpatial relations and spatial locations are dissociated within prefrontal and parietal cortex
Ackerman, C. M., & Courtney, S. M. (2012) · Journal of Neurophysiology · doi:10.1152/jn.01024.2011 · Cited by 41 · see citing works
Self-citationTransfer of training from one working memory task to another: behavioural and neural evidence
Beatty, E. L., Jobidon, M.-E., Bouak, F., Nakashima, A., Smith, I., Lam, Q., Blackler, K., Cheung, B., & Vartanian, O. (2015) · Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnsys.2015.00086 · Cited by 37 · see citing works
Visual Working Memory Capacity Can Be Increased by Training on Distractor Filtering Efficiency
Li, C.-H., He, X., Yu-juan, W., Hu, Z., & Guo, C. (2017) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2017.00196 · Cited by 34 · see citing works
Alpha synchronization during auditory spatial short-term memory
Kaiser, J., Heidegger, T., Wibral, M., Altmann, C. F., & Lutzenberger, W. (2007) · Neuroreport · doi:10.1097/wnr.0b013e32821c553b · Cited by 33 · see citing works
Maintenance of relational information in working memory leads to suppression of the sensory cortex
Ikkai, A., Blacker, K. J., Lakshmanan, B. M., Ewen, J. B., & Courtney, S. M. (2014) · Journal of Neurophysiology · doi:10.1152/jn.00134.2014 · Cited by 22 · see citing works
Self-citationThe role of alpha oscillations in deriving and maintaining spatial relations in working memory
Blacker, K. J., Ikkai, A., Lakshmanan, B. M., Ewen, J. B., & Courtney, S. M. (2016) · Cognitive Affective & Behavioral Neuroscience · doi:10.3758/s13415-016-0439-y · Cited by 20 · see citing works
Self-citationAction Video-Game Training and Its Effects on Perception and Attentional Control
Green, C. S., Gorman, T. E., & Bavelier, D. (2016) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-42662-4_10 · Cited by 19 · see citing works
Distinct Neural Substrates for Maintaining Locations and Spatial Relations in Working Memory
Blacker, K. J., & Courtney, S. M. (2016) · Frontiers in Human Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnhum.2016.00594 · Cited by 16 · see citing works
Self-citation
Flagged first, then by citations
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Divergent Research Methods Limit Understanding of Working Memory Training
Pergher, V., Shalchy, M. A., Pahor, A., Van Hulle, M. M., Jaeggi, S. M., & Seitz, A. R. (2020) · Journal of Cognitive Enhancement · doi:10.1007/s41465-019-00134-7 · Cited by 56 · see citing works
Are Working Memory Training Effects Paradigm-Specific?
Holmes, J., Woolgar, F., Hampshire, A., & Gathercole, S. E. (2019) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01103 · Cited by 55 · see citing works
The Influence of Individual Differences in Cognitive Ability on Working Memory Training Gains
Wiemers, E. A., Redick, T. S., & Morrison, A. B. (2019) · Journal of Cognitive Enhancement · doi:10.1007/s41465-018-0111-2 · Cited by 48 · see citing works
Pahor, A., Seitz, A. R., & Jaeggi, S. M. (2022) · Nature Human Behaviour · doi:10.1038/s41562-022-01384-w · Cited by 34 · see citing works
Broad and sustained transfer effects of executive n-back working memory training
Cao, D.-Y., Zhang, T.-N., Zhang, Y., Zhang, E., & Zhang, G.-L. (2026) · Psychonomic Bulletin & Review · doi:10.3758/s13423-025-02773-8
- Authors
- Blacker, K. J., Negoita, S., Ewen, J. B., & Courtney, S. M.
- Affiliations
- Johns Hopkins University (US)
- Kennedy Krieger Institute (US)
- Corresponding author
- Blacker, Kara J.
- Venue
- Journal of Cognitive Enhancement
- Published
- 2017-10-16
- Volume
- 1
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 434-454
- ISSN
- 2509-3290 (ISSN-L)
- 2509-3304
- PMC
- PMC5805159
- OpenAlex
- W2766802499
- Cited by
- 74
- References
- 90
- Citations by year
- 2026: 9 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 14 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 1
- FWCI
- 10.18
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- europepmc.org
- Locations
- Journal of Cognitive Enhancement (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- Johns Hopkins Science of Learning Institute (Fellowship)
- National Institute of Mental Health (R01 MH082957)
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (K23 NS073626)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Abilities and Testing
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Functions and Memory
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
- Keywords
- working memory training, complex span, near transfer, far transfer, fluid intelligence, alpha power, top-down modulation, individual differences
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
