Cited by 72Cognitive Abilities and TestingCognitive Functions and MemoryCognitive and developmental aspects of mathematical skills

The Hype Cycle of Working Memory Training

Open access
Redick, Thomas S.·2019·Current Directions in Psychological Science

Abstract

Seventeen years and hundreds of studies after the first journal article on working memory training was published, evidence for the efficacy of working memory training is still wanting. Numerous studies show that individuals who repeatedly practice computerized working memory tasks improve on those tasks and closely related variants. Critically, although individual studies have shown improvements in untrained abilities and behaviors, systematic reviews of the broader literature show that studies producing large, positive findings are often those with the most methodological shortcomings. The current review discusses the past, present, and future status of working memory training, including consideration of factors that might influence working memory training and transfer efficacy.

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

This review argues that working memory training has followed a “hype cycle”: early claims of broad far transfer have not held up, and the strongest positive findings often come from methodologically weaker studies. The paper concludes that training reliably improves trained and similar tasks, but evidence for broad cognitive or behavioral benefits remains wanting.

Key findings

  • Working memory training produces near transfer—improvement on the trained tasks and closely related variants—but not consistent far transfer to untrained abilities or behaviors.
  • In Melby-Lervåg et al. (2016), studies with small samples and passive control groups yielded an average fluid-intelligence effect of \(g = .33\), whereas methodologically stronger studies with larger samples and active controls yielded \(g = .01\).
  • Foster et al. (2017) found that high-working-memory subjects performed better on day one of training and improved more on training tasks than low-working-memory subjects, but there was only limited near transfer and no far transfer to fluid intelligence for either group.
  • A meta-analysis of tDCS-plus-training studies yielded no benefits of tDCS and only near transfer; expectation manipulations in Tsai et al. (2018) did not affect n-back transfer, though that study did not address far transfer.

Methods

  • Design: narrative review of the working memory training literature, framed through the Gartner “hype cycle” metaphor.
  • Data: published and unpublished working memory training studies, including meta-analyses and individual experiments; no new empirical data are reported.
  • Main analysis: qualitative synthesis of evidence on near versus far transfer, methodological quality, individual differences, expectations, spacing, and combined interventions.

Limitations

  • The paper states that many training studies have small sample sizes, passive control groups, subjective and/or unblinded rating measures, and hypothesis-inconsistent pretest-posttest patterns.
  • It also states that most individual-difference studies had small samples for detecting moderated effects, that responder analyses linking training gain to transfer gain are uninformative, and that specific findings such as Foroughi et al. (2016) and Wang et al. (2014) need replication with larger samples and stronger controls.
  • Evident from the text: as a narrative review, it does not provide a new systematic meta-analysis or primary data, and its conclusions depend on the selected literature and the author’s interpretive framing.

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

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1177/0963721419848668

Cites

41 of 41 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Claims the paper makes

0 of 37 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged

  • Findingcitation

    Individuals with higher working memory at pretest show the largest improvements on working memory training tasks.

    “Examining cognitive ability, recent research with my colleagues has shown that individuals that are higher in working memory at pretest show the largest improvements on the training tasks (Foster et al., 2017; Wiemers, Redick, & Morrison, 2018).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Foster et al., 2017

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Wiemers, Redick, & Morrison, 2018

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Findingcitation

    Some second-wave studies highlighted methodological limitations of the initial working memory training studies.

    “some of which highlighted methodological limitations of the initial studies on the topic (Shipstead, Redick, & Engle, 2012)”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Shipstead, Redick, & Engle, 2012

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  • Findingcitation

    Transfer to fluid intelligence was larger for subjects recruited with brain training advertisements than for subjects recruited with neutral fliers.

    “Foroughi et al. (2016) found that transfer to fluid intelligence was larger for the subjects recruited using the brain training advertisements compared to the neutral fliers.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Foroughi et al. (2016)

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Findingcitation

    After the initial positive studies, a second wave of largely negative research failed to demonstrate far transfer.

    “However, after the initial flurry of positive studies, a second wave of largely negative, challenging research that failed to demonstrate far transfer emerged (Chooi & Thompson, 2012; Harrison et al., 2013; Redick et al., 2013; Sprenger et al., 2013; Thompson et al., 2013)”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Chooi & Thompson, 2012

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    • cites Harrison et al., 2013

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    • cites Redick et al., 2013

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  • Findingcitation

    At the meta-analytic level, there is no relationship between the rate of training improvement and the amount of change in intelligence scores from pretest to posttest.

    “At the meta-analytic level, Au et al. (2015) found no relationship between the rate of training improvement and the amount of change in intelligence scores from pretest to posttest.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Au et al., 2015

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  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 4
  • May combine two claims. 12
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Findingcitation

    In Wang et al. (2014), subjects with spaced training sessions showed more pretest-posttest improvement in fluid intelligence than subjects with massed sessions, although training task improvement did not vary.

    “Although the amount of training task improvement did not vary, Wang et al. argued that transfer to fluid intelligence was directly related to the training schedule – subjects with spaced sessions showed more pretest-posttest improvement than subjects with massed sessions.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Wang, Zhou, and Shah (2014)

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingcitation

    There is substantial evidence that practicing working memory tasks over multiple days improves performance on those and similar tasks, but not on other untrained tasks and materials.

    “Seventeen years after publication of the first computerized working memory training study, there is substantial evidence that practicing working memory tasks over multiple days improves performance on those and similar tasks, but not to other untrained tasks and materials (Melby-Lervåg et al., 2016).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Melby-Lervåg et al., 2016

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingcitation

    In the meta-analysis by Melby-Lervåg et al. (2016), the nonverbal ability far transfer effect size was significantly larger for passive-control groups than for active-control groups, but not for working memory near transfer.

    “Indeed, in the meta-analysis by Melby-Lervåg et al. (2016), the nonverbal ability far transfer effect size was significantly larger for passive-control groups versus active-control groups, but not for working memory near transfer.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Melby-Lervåg et al. (2016)

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingcitation

    Working memory training produces benefits on working memory tasks similar to the training materials, but not on other outcomes.

    “Overall, similar to other recent meta-analyses (Sala & Gobet, 2017; Soveri, Antfolk, Karlsson, Salo, & Laine, 2017), we found that training produced benefits to working memory tasks similar to the training materials, but not to other outcomes (Figure 1).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Sala & Gobet, 2017

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    • cites Soveri, Antfolk, Karlsson, Salo, & Laine, 2017

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  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Findingcitation

    Some studies have reported a positive relationship between training gain and transfer gain.

    “Some studies have reported a positive relationship between training gain and transfer gain (e.g., Chein & Morrison, 2010; Jaeggi et al., 2011).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Chein & Morrison, 2010

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    • cites Jaeggi et al., 2011

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  • May combine two claims.

    Findingcitation

    Common problems in working memory training studies include small samples, passive control groups, subjective or unblinded rating measures, and hypothesis-inconsistent pretest-posttest patterns.

    “These include problems such as small sample sizes, passive control groups, subjective and/or unblinded rating measures, and hypothesis-inconsistent pretest and posttest patterns (Dougherty et al., 2015; Melby-Lervåg et al., 2016; Rapport et al., 2013; Redick, 2015; Redick et al., 2015; Shipstead et al., 2012; Simons et al., 2016).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Dougherty et al., 2015

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    • cites Melby-Lervåg et al., 2016

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    • cites Rapport et al., 2013

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  • May combine two claims.

    Findingcitation

    Only limited near transfer was observed, with no evidence of far transfer to fluid intelligence for either high- or low-working memory subjects.

    “Critically, only limited near transfer was observed, with no evidence of far transfer to fluid intelligence for either high- or low-working memory subjects.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Foster et al., 2017

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingcitation

    High-working memory subjects, compared with low-working memory subjects, showed higher performance on day one of training and larger improvements on training tasks from first to last day.

    “Foster et al. found that high-working memory subjects, compared to low-working memory subjects, showed higher performance on day one of training and larger improvements on the training tasks from the first to the last day.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Foster et al., 2017

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingcitation

    In Tsai et al. (2018), the expectation manipulation did not affect transfer from n-back training to n-back tasks; the n-back training group showed transfer but the control group did not.

    “Tsai et al. (2018) found for that for transfer from n-back training to n-back tasks, the expectation manipulation did not have an effect. That is, regardless of the expectation instructions that subjects received, the n-back training group showed transfer but the control group did not.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Tsai et al. (2018)

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingnone given

    People who repeatedly practice computerized working memory tasks improve on those tasks and on closely related variants.

    “Numerous studies show that individuals who repeatedly practice computerized working memory tasks improve on those tasks and closely related variants.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingcitation

    A meta-analysis of published tDCS-plus-training studies found no benefits of tDCS and only near transfer.

    “However, the early returns on this approach are not promising, as a meta-analysis of the small number of published tDCS+training studies to-date yielded no benefits of tDCS and only near transfer (Nilsson, Lebedev, Rydström, & Lövdén, 2017).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Nilsson, Lebedev, Rydström, & Lövdén, 2017

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable). May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Correlating training gain scores and transfer gain scores, or similar responder analyses, is uninformative and should be ignored if reported.

    “However, Tidwell et al. (2014) demonstrated that correlating training gain scores and transfer gain scores (or similar responder analyses) are uninformative and should be ignored if reported.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Tidwell et al., 2014

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  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationnone given

    The results of Foroughi et al. (2016) are weakened by a small sample size and only one session of n-back training.

    “However, the results of Foroughi et al. (2016) are weakened by their use of a small sample size and administration of only one session of n-back training.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Foroughi et al. (2016)

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Interpretationcitation

    The spacing of training sessions might be relevant for the amount of transfer produced.

    “An intriguing finding worthy of further study is that the spacing of the training sessions might be relevant for the amount of transfer produced (von Bastian & Oberauer, 2014).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites von Bastian & Oberauer, 2014

      Not checked in the free run.

14 of 14
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Subjects are often recruited from informational sessions or fliers that state the study purpose is to improve cognition.

    “In addition, subjects often are recruited from informational sessions or fliers that specify the purpose of the study is to improve cognition.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Many individual training studies examining the relationship between training and transfer have exceedingly small samples for correlational analyses.

    “In addition, many of the individual training studies examining the relationship between training and transfer using any statistical approach suffer from exceedingly small sample sizes for such correlational analyses.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Many studies use a brain-as-muscle metaphor or a functional-overlap explanation for transfer between working memory and fluid intelligence.

    “Instead, many studies use a metaphor that appeals to the (incorrect) idea that the brain is a muscle, or that transfer between working memory and fluid intelligence occurs because there is functional overlap in some of the brain areas involved in performance of both types of tasks.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The logic of many studies is that working memory training works by increasing the number of discrete representations one can hold at a time in working memory.

    “The logic of many studies seems to be that working memory training would work by increasing the number of discrete representations one can hold at a time within working memory.”
4 of 4

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Cites

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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. Linden A., 2003, Understanding Gartner’s hype cycles

Cited by

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Authors
Redick, T. S.
Affiliations
Purdue University West Lafayette (US)
Corresponding author
Redick, Thomas S.
Venue
Current Directions in Psychological Science
Published
2019-05-16
Volume
28
Issue
5
Pages
423-429
ISSN
  • 0963-7214 (ISSN-L)
  • 1467-8721
OpenAlex
W2946205791
Cited by
69
References
40
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 17 · 2020: 15
FWCI
11.79
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Current Directions in Psychological Science (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • national science foundation (1632403 and 1839971)
  • national institutes of health (2R01AA013650-11A1)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Abilities and Testing
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Functions and Memory
  • Physical Sciences › Mathematics › Statistics and Probability › Cognitive and developmental aspects of mathematical skills
Keywords
working memory training, transfer of training, computerized cognitive training, training effectiveness, cognitive enhancement, individual differences in training response

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