Transfer after working memory updating training
Open accessAbstract
During the past decade, working memory training has attracted much interest. However, the training outcomes have varied between studies and methodological problems have hampered the interpretation of results. The current study examined transfer after working memory updating training by employing an extensive battery of pre-post cognitive measures with a focus on near transfer. Thirty-one healthy Finnish young adults were randomized into either a working memory training group or an active control group. The working memory training group practiced with three working memory tasks, while the control group trained with three commercial computer games with a low working memory load. The participants trained thrice a week for five weeks, with one training session lasting about 45 minutes. Compared to the control group, the working memory training group showed strongest transfer to an n-back task, followed by working memory updating, which in turn was followed by active working memory capacity. Our results support the view that working memory training produces near transfer effects, and that the degree of transfer depends on the cognitive overlap between the training and transfer measures.
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Task similarity has dominated transfer frameworks for more than a century.
“Since Thorndike’s common elements theory was established in the 1900 s, task similarity has dominated transfer frameworks for more than a century, centering on similarity as a primary determinant of training transfer likelihood (Waris et al., 2015; Woodworth & Thorndike, 1901).”
From The asymmetry of working memory training transfer: A systematic review and meta-analysis (2026) · cites this paper as Waris et al., 2015
The Introduction and Discussion (pages unavailable) treat cognitive overlap between training and transfer tasks as a predictor of transfer strength. They do not establish that task similarity has dominated transfer frameworks since Thorndike’s theory or for more than a century. (LLM, conf=0.84)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThe active control group played two casual video games used in previous training studies, which do not specifically tap WM processes.
“This active control group played two casual video games used in previous training studies [15, 54–57], which do not specifically tap WM processes.”
From Nearest transfer effects of working memory training: A comparison of two programs focused on working memory updating (2019) · cites this paper as [15]
A lack of transfer effects from WMU training to fluid intelligence has been reported in a number of studies, and some meta-analyses have addressed this issue.
“A lack of transfer effects from WMU training to fluid intelligence has been reported in a number of studies too (e.g., [14–17, 27]), and some meta-analyses have addressed this issue.”
From Nearest transfer effects of working memory training: A comparison of two programs focused on working memory updating (2019) · cites this paper as [15]
In four studies, participants trained on other updating working memory tasks in addition to N-back, which prevents understanding the separate contributions of these tasks to transfer.
“In four studies, participants trained on other types of updating WM tasks in addition to the N-back, which precludes understanding of the individual contributions of these training tasks to transfer (Maraver et al. 2016; Waris et al. 2015; Kühn et al. 2013; Loosli et al. 2016).”
From Divergent Research Methods Limit Understanding of Working Memory Training (2020) · cites this paper as Waris et al. 2015
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Working memory training revisited: A multi-level meta-analysis of n-back training studies
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Pattern of Near Transfer Effects Following Working Memory Training With a Dual <i>N</i>-Back Task
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The asymmetry of working memory training transfer: A systematic review and meta-analysis
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“Since Thorndike’s common elements theory was established in the 1900 s, task similarity has dominated transfer frameworks for more than a century, centering on similarity as a primary determinant of training transfer likelihood (Waris et al., 2015; Wood-worth & Thorndike, 1901).”
- Authors
- Waris, O., Soveri, A., & Laine, M.
- Affiliations
- Åbo Akademi University (FI)
- Corresponding author
- Waris, Otto
- Venue
- PLOS ONE
- Publisher
- Public Library of Science (PLoS)
- Published
- 2015-09-25
- Volume
- 10
- Issue
- 9
- Pages
- e0138734
- ISSN
- 1932-6203 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC4583509
- OpenAlex
- W2342180986
- Cited by
- 47
- References
- 54
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 3
- FWCI
- 7.53
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- PLoS ONE (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Åbo Akademi University Research Portal (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Funders
- Åbo Akademi
- 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, transfer, near transfer, working memory updating, n-back task, working memory capacity, video games, cognitive training
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Female, Finland, Humans, Male, Memory, Short-Term, Neuropsychological Tests, Random Allocation, Transfer, Psychology, Young Adult, Healthy Volunteers
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