Does working memory training work? The promise and challenges of enhancing cognition by training working memory
Open accessAbstract
A growing body of literature shows that one's working memory (WM) capacity can be expanded through targeted training. Given the established relationship between WM and higher cognition, these successful training studies have led to speculation that WM training may yield broad cognitive benefits. This review considers the current state of the emerging WM training literature, and details both its successes and limitations. We identify two distinct approaches to WM training, strategy training and core training, and highlight both the theoretical and practical motivations that guide each approach. Training-related increases in WM capacity have been successfully demonstrated across a wide range of subject populations, but different training techniques seem to produce differential impacts upon the broader landscape of cognitive abilities. In particular, core WM training studies seem to produce more far-reaching transfer effects, likely because they target domain-general mechanisms of WM. The results of individual studies encourage optimism regarding the value of WM training as a tool for general cognitive enhancement. However, we discuss several limitations that should be addressed before the field endorses the value of this approach.
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WM training transfer to untrained tasks is limited.
“The limited transfer of WM training to untrained tasks has long constrained its applications (Morrison & Chein, 2011; Zhao et al., 2022).”
From The asymmetry of working memory training transfer: A systematic review and meta-analysis (2026) · cites this paper as Morrison & Chein, 2011
The ‘Lack of consistency in experimental methods and findings’ section reports both successful and failed transfer to untrained cognitive-control and fluid-intelligence tasks, supporting the view that transfer is limited or uncertain. The paper does not establish the broader historical claim that limited transfer has long constrained WM training’s applications; it also reports some successful transfer. (LLM, conf=0.82)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredAt the behavioral level, transfer effects could be expected in potentially related cognitive functions and lead to enhanced performance in a variety of tasks that, although untrained, share the same cognitive mechanism as the targeted trained processes.
“Similarly, at the behavioral level, transfer effects could be expected in potentially related cognitive functions, and lead to enhanced performance in a variety tasks that, although untrained, share the same cognitive mechanism than the targeted trained processes (Morrison and Chein, 2011).”
From Training on Working Memory and Inhibitory Control in Young Adults (2016) · cites this paper as Morrison and Chein, 2011
Current training studies range from 2 to 14 weeks.
“Second, the present training schedule covered 2 weeks, which is in the lower end of the range of the current training studies (from 2 to 14 weeks; Morrison and Chein, 2011).”
From Training on Working Memory and Inhibitory Control in Young Adults (2016) · cites this paper as Morrison and Chein, 2011
Many studies that reported near and far transfer effects are called into question due to small sample sizes and problematic control procedures.
“Although other studies have reported near and far transfer effects, many are called into question due to small sample sizes and problematic control procedures (for thorough discussion see [53–55]).”
From Dual N-back working memory training in healthy adults: A randomized comparison to processing speed training. (2016) · cites this paper as [54]
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Self-citationComputerized working memory training: Can it lead to gains in cognitive skills in students?
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Domain-general enhancements of metacognitive ability through adaptive training.
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“In contrast to previous studies that typically demonstrate that computerized neurocognitive interventions for ADHD improve working memory skills but do not have a strong impact on daily life functioning (“far-transfer effects”) [26-30,58], the findings of the current study provide clear evidence that a serious game fo…”
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On the impacts of working memory training on executive functioning
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Self-citationOlder adults improve on everyday tasks after working memory training and neurostimulation
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“A now growing literature is showing that cognitive functions, such as working memory (WM), can be positively influenced by targeted and intensive training (Klingberg et al., 2005; Klingberg, 2010; Diamond and Lee, 2011; Morrison and Chein, 2011).”
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Cogmed WM training: Reviewing the reviews
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Dual n-back training increases the capacity of the focus of attention
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Benefits of training visuospatial working memory in young-old and old-old.
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Training on Working Memory and Inhibitory Control in Young Adults
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“Similarly, at the behavioral level, transfer effects could be expected in potentially related cognitive functions, and lead to enhanced performance in a variety tasks that, although untrained, share the same cognitive mechanism than the targeted trained processes (Morrison and Chein, 2011).”
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The impact of auditory working memory training on the fronto-parietal working memory network
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Game elements improve performance in a working memory training task
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Spaced cognitive training promotes training transfer.
Wang, Z., Zhou, R., & Shah, P. (2014) · Frontiers in Human Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnhum.2014.00217 · Cited by 81 · see citing works
Does working memory training have to be adaptive?
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Could training executive function improve treatment outcomes for eating disorders?
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Working memory updating and binding training: Bayesian evidence supporting the absence of transfer.
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Do the effects of working memory training depend on baseline ability level?
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N-back Versus Complex Span Working Memory Training
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“As suggested in previous reviews, factors associated with dual n-back training related change are in need of exploration and dissemination [53,54].”
BackgroundAn Evaluation of a Working Memory Training Scheme in Older Adults
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The role of strategy use in working memory training outcomes
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The mechanisms of far transfer from cognitive training: Review and hypothesis.
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Divergent Research Methods Limit Understanding of Working Memory Training
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Working memory training improves visual short-term memory capacity
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The role of attention bias to threat in anxiety: mechanisms, modulators and open questions
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The Influence of Individual Differences in Cognitive Ability on Working Memory Training Gains
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Self-citationTransfer after working memory updating training
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Does Strategy Training Reduce Age-Related Deficits in Working Memory?
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Self-citationTransfer of training from one working memory task to another: behavioural and neural evidence
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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 effect of monetary compensation on cognitive training outcomes
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Mindfulness Meditation Improves Visual Short-Term Memory
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The future promise of Cogmed working memory training.
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Dual n-back working memory training evinces superior transfer effects compared to the method of loci
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Neural correlates of working memory training: An fMRI meta-analysis
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- Authors
- Morrison, A. B., & Chein, J. M.
- Affiliations
- Temple University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Chein, Jason M.
- Venue
- Psychonomic Bulletin & Review
- Published
- 2010-11-17
- Volume
- 18
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 46-60
- ISSN
- 1069-9384 (ISSN-L)
- 1531-5320
- OpenAlex
- W2053464314
- Cited by
- 723
- References
- 81
- Citations by year
- 2026: 13 · 2025: 26 · 2024: 23 · 2023: 25 · 2022: 40 · 2021: 42 · 2020: 44 · 2019: 56 · 2018: 59 · 2017: 67 · 2016: 64 · 2015: 91 · 2014: 67 · 2013: 54 · 2012: 45
- FWCI
- 44.11
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Psychonomic Bulletin & Review (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Abilities and Testing
- Physical Sciences › Mathematics › Statistics and Probability › Cognitive and developmental aspects of mathematical skills
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Functions and Memory
- Keywords
- working memory training, working memory capacity, strategy training, core training, transfer effects, cognitive enhancement, domain-general mechanisms
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Aged, Attention, Child, Cognition, Humans, Intelligence, Judgment, Memory Disorders, Memory, Short-Term, Middle Aged, Pattern Recognition, Visual, Practice, Psychological, Serial Learning, Transfer, Psychology, Verbal Learning, Treatment Outcome, Young Adult
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