Cited by 127Cognitive Abilities and TestingDevelopmental and Educational NeuropsychologyCognitive and developmental aspects of mathematical skills

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 76 of the 77 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; none of the 40 sources its claims cite is checked for support yet.

The cognitive and academic benefits of Cogmed: A meta-analysis

Open access
Aksayli, N. Deniz, Sala, Giovanni, Gobet, Fernand·2019·Educational Research Review

Published version of a preprint

Abstract

Cogmed Working Memory Training (CWMT) is a commercial cognitive-training program designed to foster working-memory capacity. Enhanced working-memory capacity is then supposed to increase one's overall cognitive function and academic achievement. This meta-analysis investigates the effects of CWMT on cognitive and academic outcomes. The inclusion criteria were met by 50 studies (637 effect sizes). Highly consistent near-zero effects were estimated in far-transfer measures of cognitive ability (e.g., attention and intelligence) and academic achievement (language ability and mathematics). By contrast, slightly heterogeneous small to medium effects were observed in memory tasks (i.e., near transfer). Moderator analysis showed that these effects were weaker for near-transfer measures not directly related to the trained tasks. These results highlight that, while near transfer occurs regularly, far transfer is rare or, possibly, inexistent. Transfer thus appears to be a function of the degree of overlap between trained tasks and outcome tasks.

Overview

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

This meta-analysis of 50 studies (637 effect sizes; 3,059 participants) finds that Cogmed Working Memory Training produces near-zero far-transfer effects on cognitive ability and academic achievement, while producing small-to-medium near-transfer effects on memory tasks. The authors conclude that transfer depends on overlap between trained and outcome tasks, and that CWMT cannot be recommended as an educational tool.

Key findings

  • Far transfer was consistently near zero: immediate post-test \( \bar{g} = 0.048 \), 95% CI [-0.017; 0.113], \( p = .135 \); follow-up \( \bar{g} = 0.051 \), 95% CI [-0.018; 0.119], \( p = .131 \).
  • Near transfer was significant: immediate post-test \( \bar{g} = 0.444 \), 95% CI [0.337; 0.551], \( p < .001 \); follow-up \( \bar{g} = 0.365 \), 95% CI [0.242; 0.487], \( p < .001 \).
  • Effects were larger for very-near-transfer memory tasks (\( \bar{g} = 0.566 \) immediate; \( \bar{g} = 0.487 \) follow-up) than for lesser-near-transfer tasks (\( \bar{g} = 0.246 \) immediate; \( \bar{g} = 0.176 \) follow-up).
  • Baseline differences and task similarity (Criterion) were the main moderators; far-transfer models showed no true heterogeneity after controlling for baseline differences.

Methods

  • Systematic search following PRISMA across MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Science Direct, and ProQuest Dissertation & Theses, using Boolean terms for Cogmed/working-memory/cognitive training; 2,761 records retrieved, yielding 50 studies from 2005–2017 that met five inclusion criteria.
  • Effect sizes were Hedges’s \( g \), analyzed with robust variance estimation (RVE) with hierarchical weights and small-sample corrections in Robumeta; near transfer was defined as memory tasks (Gsm) and far transfer as all other cognitive/academic measures.
  • Moderators included allocation, control-group type, baseline difference, age, population, measure type, and criterion (very near vs. lesser near transfer); sensitivity analyses used influential-case diagnostics and publication-bias analyses (funnel plots, trim-and-fill, PET-PEESE).

Limitations

  • The paper states that the sampling-error variance formula used is an approximation because pre-post-test correlations were rarely reported in primary studies (only Honoré & Noël, 2017, reported them).
  • The paper notes that follow-up analyses were based on a subsample of studies, and post-test-to-follow-up attrition may affect comparisons.
  • The paper states that future studies should test effects on latent factors rather than observed variables; evident from the text, the meta-analysis is limited to CWMT and cannot directly establish effects of other commercial training programs.

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1016/j.edurev.2019.04.003

Cites

76 of 77 references verified1 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Verification

Claims the paper makes

54 Own result · 32 Own interpretation · 26 Not checked yet · 8 No basis given · 4 Own method

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Show all 72 claims

  • It may state two separate claims as one. 37
  • Probably not a substantial claim. 20
  • The quote only partly states this claim. 3
52 of 52
  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    If WM capacity could be enhanced by training, the benefits would spread across many other skills positively related to WM.

    “Given these premises, it is natural to assume that if WM capacity could be enhanced by training, the benefits would spread across many other skills positively related to WM (Jaeggi et al., 2008).”
  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    WM training fosters domain-general mechanisms such as WM capacity and attentional control, which in turn enhances other cognitive and academic skills.

    “Therefore, like with the other cognitive-training programs, the essential assumption underlying these hypotheses is that WM training fosters domain-general mechanisms such as WM capacity and attentional control, which in turn enhances other cognitive and academic skills.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    WM capacity is a major predictor of academic achievement and is highly correlated with fluid intelligence.

    “Second, and most crucially, WM capacity is a major predictor of academic achievement and is highly correlated with fluid intelligence.”
3 of 3

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Citations

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  1. Pearson

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Metadata

Authors
Aksayli, N. D., Sala, G., & Gobet, F.
Affiliations
  • The University of Osaka (JP)
  • University of Liverpool (GB)
Corresponding author
Sala, Giovanni
Venue
Educational Research Review
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2019-06
Volume
27
Pages
229-243
ISSN
1747-938X (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2921463501
Cited by
123
References
75
Citations by year
2026: 16 · 2025: 19 · 2024: 18 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 19 · 2021: 20 · 2020: 14 · 2019: 4
FWCI
2.13
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Educational Research Review (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • London School of Economics and Political Science Research Online (London School of Economics and Political Science) (acceptedVersion)
  • London School of Economics and Political Science Theses Online (London School of Economics and Political Science) (submittedVersion)
  • PsyArXiv (OSF Preprints) (submittedVersion)
  • PsyArXiv (OSF Preprints) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Abilities and Testing
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology › Developmental and Educational Neuropsychology
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Cognitive and developmental aspects of mathematical skills
Keywords
Cogmed, working memory training, cognitive training, far transfer, near transfer, academic performance, attention, intelligence, memory tasks, language skills, mathematics achievement

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