Examining Working Memory Training for Healthy Adults—A Second-Order Meta-Analysis
Background: Enhancing working memory performance in cognitively and physically healthy individuals is a popular area of research. The results from a large number of studies have now been summarized in multiple meta-analyses. In these reviews, various training methods have been examined, including mi...
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MDPI AG
2024-11-01
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| Series: | Journal of Intelligence |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-3200/12/11/114 |
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| author | Maria Syed Jarrad A. G. Lum Linda K. Byrne David Skvarc |
| author_facet | Maria Syed Jarrad A. G. Lum Linda K. Byrne David Skvarc |
| author_sort | Maria Syed |
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| description | Background: Enhancing working memory performance in cognitively and physically healthy individuals is a popular area of research. The results from a large number of studies have now been summarized in multiple meta-analyses. In these reviews, various training methods have been examined, including mindfulness training, adaptive working memory training, physical activity training, and video game training, to examine whether working memory capacity can be improved. This report aggregated the results of these meta-analyses using second-order meta-analytic approaches to ascertain the extent to which working memory functioning can be enhanced in healthy adults. Methods: A total of six meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials that compared working memory interventions to a control group were included in the analyses. These studies were identified after systematically searching three electronic databases: APA PsycInfo, ERIC and Medline. Collectively, the meta-analyses investigated the effects of cognitive programs, mindfulness, video games and physical activity on working memory. Only meta-analyses undertaken with healthy adults aged between 18 and 55 years were included in the report. Results: The results revealed an average improvement in working memory across the included studies compared to the control groups. The findings indicated a small yet significant enhancement in working memory, with a standardized mean difference of 0.335 (95% CI [0.223; 0.447], <i>p</i> < .001). Further analysis tests for superiority effects between the different working memory training programs revealed no significant differences between intervention effect sizes. Conclusion: Based on the findings, it can be concluded that the working memory capacity of healthy adults can be improved through training. However, the effect size is small, so the utility of this type of training in real-life improvements in cognition may be minimal. The evidence does not indicate that one type of working memory training is superior to another. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d9a93d82a55d4ccca52d99c4a863c3e4 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2079-3200 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
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| series | Journal of Intelligence |
| spelling | doaj-art-d9a93d82a55d4ccca52d99c4a863c3e42024-11-26T18:07:47ZengMDPI AGJournal of Intelligence2079-32002024-11-01121111410.3390/jintelligence12110114Examining Working Memory Training for Healthy Adults—A Second-Order Meta-AnalysisMaria Syed0Jarrad A. G. Lum1Linda K. Byrne2David Skvarc3Faculty of Health, School of Psychology, Deakin University, Melbourne 3125, AustraliaFaculty of Health, School of Psychology, Deakin University, Melbourne 3125, AustraliaFaculty of Health, School of Psychology, Deakin University, Melbourne 3125, AustraliaFaculty of Health, School of Psychology, Deakin University, Melbourne 3125, AustraliaBackground: Enhancing working memory performance in cognitively and physically healthy individuals is a popular area of research. The results from a large number of studies have now been summarized in multiple meta-analyses. In these reviews, various training methods have been examined, including mindfulness training, adaptive working memory training, physical activity training, and video game training, to examine whether working memory capacity can be improved. This report aggregated the results of these meta-analyses using second-order meta-analytic approaches to ascertain the extent to which working memory functioning can be enhanced in healthy adults. Methods: A total of six meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials that compared working memory interventions to a control group were included in the analyses. These studies were identified after systematically searching three electronic databases: APA PsycInfo, ERIC and Medline. Collectively, the meta-analyses investigated the effects of cognitive programs, mindfulness, video games and physical activity on working memory. Only meta-analyses undertaken with healthy adults aged between 18 and 55 years were included in the report. Results: The results revealed an average improvement in working memory across the included studies compared to the control groups. The findings indicated a small yet significant enhancement in working memory, with a standardized mean difference of 0.335 (95% CI [0.223; 0.447], <i>p</i> < .001). Further analysis tests for superiority effects between the different working memory training programs revealed no significant differences between intervention effect sizes. Conclusion: Based on the findings, it can be concluded that the working memory capacity of healthy adults can be improved through training. However, the effect size is small, so the utility of this type of training in real-life improvements in cognition may be minimal. The evidence does not indicate that one type of working memory training is superior to another.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-3200/12/11/114working memory trainingrandomized controlled trialsmeta-analysisphysical activity trainingmindfulness trainingvideo game training |
| spellingShingle | Maria Syed Jarrad A. G. Lum Linda K. Byrne David Skvarc Examining Working Memory Training for Healthy Adults—A Second-Order Meta-Analysis Journal of Intelligence working memory training randomized controlled trials meta-analysis physical activity training mindfulness training video game training |
| title | Examining Working Memory Training for Healthy Adults—A Second-Order Meta-Analysis |
| title_full | Examining Working Memory Training for Healthy Adults—A Second-Order Meta-Analysis |
| title_fullStr | Examining Working Memory Training for Healthy Adults—A Second-Order Meta-Analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Examining Working Memory Training for Healthy Adults—A Second-Order Meta-Analysis |
| title_short | Examining Working Memory Training for Healthy Adults—A Second-Order Meta-Analysis |
| title_sort | examining working memory training for healthy adults a second order meta analysis |
| topic | working memory training randomized controlled trials meta-analysis physical activity training mindfulness training video game training |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-3200/12/11/114 |
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