We suggest that memory training programs may be misguided by an implicit "generalist" assumption memory training on a couple of memory tasks will have a positive benefit on memory ability in general.
Similarly, music and language conferred benefits for some working memory tasks, but musicians had better performance across tasks (Bidelman, Hutka, & Moreno, 2013; Fiveash & Pammer, 2014).
This first randomized controlled trial with low working memory children investigated whether the benefits of training extend beyond standard working memory tasks to other more complex activities typical of the classroom in which working memory plays a role, as well as to other cognitive skills and developing academic abilities.
Consistent with other studies of Cogmed, benefits were observed in trained and untrained memory tasks in both the ELBW and term adolescents exposed to Cogmed, as well as the VLBW preschoolers.
One approach to increase memory-training benefits is to target training for the everyday memory tasks for which older adults struggle.
Melby-Lervag and Hulme (2013) looked at transfer reported to nontrained working memory tasks following working memory training and found that younger children showed significantly larger benefits from training than do older children; however, no evidence was found of increased transfer to nonverbal abilities.
A relationship between the efficient use of working memory and long term benefits for cognitive performance is supported by the observation that working memory tasks such as the digit span task and the visual-spatial working memory task were shown to predict mathematical and reading skills achieved in the first school years.
A more recent randomised, placebo-controlled (non-adaptive and no intervention groups) trial conducted within the school setting, replicated the benefit of adaptive training on a range of untrained working memory tasks.
Thus the benefits of working memory training delivered in this way may not extend beyond structured working memory tasks.
Pupillary changes in two memory tasks.
Working memory tasks were also administered.
