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Improving fluid intelligence of children through working memory training: The role of inhibition control

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Wang, Lei, Sheng, Ang, Chang, Lei, Zhou, Renlai·2022·Frontiers in Psychology
DOI 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1025036PMC PMC9732572
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Abstract

Intelligence is strongly associated with working memory. Working memory training can improve fluid intelligence, but the underlying mechanism requires further investigation. Because inhibition control may play a key role in working memory training, this study investigated this process from an electrophysiological perspective. In total, 40 children aged 9 to 11 years were enrolled and randomly divided into a training group (n = 20) and a control group (n = 20). The training group received 20 days of working memory training, whereas the control group did not receive any training. Before and after the training period, all participants were tested using Raven’s Standard Progressive Matrices (RSPM), and electrophysiological indicators were recorded while they performed go/no-go and Stroop tasks. The results revealed that relative to the control group, the training group had significantly improved RSPM scores in the test conducted after their training. For the go/no-go tasks, the training group exhibited a significant decrease in N2 amplitude, a significant increase in P3 amplitude, a significant decrease in theta band energy, and an improvement in response inhibition ability. No significant change was observed for the Stroop task. Correlation analysis revealed that an improvement in individual response inhibition can positively predict an improvement in fluid intelligence. These results suggest that working memory training enhances the fluid intelligence of children by enhancing their response inhibition ability.

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  • Working memory updating training, working memory maintenance training, and dual n-back training produced superior improvements on one of two inhibition tests relative to passive controls in healthy children and adults with borderline personality traits (but not healthy adults).

    “A similar pattern has also been found in training studies of healthy children as well as adults with borderline personality traits (but not healthy adults) – in each case, working memory updating training, working memory maintenance (short-term memory) training, and dual n-back training produced superior improvements on one of two inhibition tests relative to passive controls (56–58; cf. 59, 60).”

    From Working memory and inhibitory control deficits in children with ADHD: an experimental evaluation of competing model predictions (2024) · cites this paper as [57]

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Wang, L., Sheng, A., Chang, L., & Zhou, R.
Affiliations
  • Nanjing University (CN)
  • University of Macau (MO)
Corresponding author
Zhou, Renlai
ORCID
Venue
Frontiers in Psychology
Publisher
Frontiers Media SA
Published
2022-11-25
Volume
13
Pages
1025036-1025036
ISSN
1664-1078 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1025036
PMC
PMC9732572
OpenAlex
W4310044578
Cited by
14
References
10
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 1
FWCI
2.76
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Frontiers in Psychology (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (2020300048)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Abilities and Testing
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology › Developmental and Educational Neuropsychology
  • Physical Sciences › Mathematics › Statistics and Probability › Cognitive and developmental aspects of mathematical skills
Keywords
working memory training, fluid intelligence, inhibitory control, response inhibition, children, N2 component, P300, theta band, go/no-go task, Stroop task, Raven's Standard Progressive Matrices, transfer of training

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