Broad and sustained transfer effects of executive n-back working memory training
Abstract
Working memory training (WMT) is one of the most widely studied areas in cognitive training. A central concern in WMT research is the transferability of training effects, which remains a topic of ongoing debate. Recently, an executive n-back paradigm, which increases the manipulation of working memory load, has been proposed as a more suitable approach to assess working memory. In the present study, we examined whether executive n-back training, compared to traditional n-back training, led to broader transfer effects across cognitive tasks. Over six daily sessions, participants completed either the executive n-back task or the traditional n-back task. The findings demonstrated that executive n-back training transferred to the Operation Span task, which also measures working memory but differs structurally from the n-back task, and to the task switching, which assesses cognitive flexibility. Furthermore, these transfer effects persisted even after a 3-month interval. These findings suggest that the executive n-back task is more effective than the traditional n-back task. Moreover, this research sheds light on the potential applications of executive n-back training in enhancing cognitive functions more generally, highlighting its utility in both clinical and educational settings where cognitive flexibility and working memory improvements are critical.
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Increasing manipulation complexity, such as in executive n-back tasks, leads to broader transfer outcomes.
“This finding is also consistent with training findings showing that increasing manipulation complexity, such as in executive n-back tasks, leads to broader transfer outcomes (Cao et al., 2026).”
From The asymmetry of working memory training transfer: A systematic review and meta-analysis (2026) · cites this paper as Cao et al., 2026
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The asymmetry of working memory training transfer: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Fu, J., Zhou, Y., Yuan, M., & Cai, Y. (2026) · Psychonomic Bulletin & Review · doi:10.3758/s13423-026-02994-5
“This finding is also consistent with training findings showing that increasing manipulation complexity, such as in executive n-back tasks, leads to broader transfer outcomes (Cao et al., 2026).”
- Authors
- Cao, D.-Y., Zhang, T.-N., Zhang, Y., Zhang, E., & Zhang, G.-L.
- Affiliations
- Soochow University (CN)
- Beijing Normal University (CN)
- Corresponding author
- Zhang, Yang
- Zhang, En
- Venue
- Psychonomic Bulletin & Review
- Published
- 2026-01
- Volume
- 33
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 36-36
- ISSN
- 1069-9384 (ISSN-L)
- 1531-5320
- OpenAlex
- W7118220017
- Cited by
- 0
- References
- 46
- FWCI
- 0.00
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- Locations
- Psychonomic Bulletin & Review (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Social Science Fund of China (BBA220201)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Abilities and Testing
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Functions and Memory
- Keywords
- working memory training, n-back task, transfer effects, cognitive flexibility, task switching, operation span, working memory load, cognitive training
- MeSH terms
- Cognitive Training, Adult, Female, Humans, Male, Memory, Short-Term, Transfer, Psychology, Young Adult, Executive Function
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