Is Working Memory Training Effective?
Is Working Memory Training Effective?
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DOI：
10.1037/a0027473
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发表时间：
2012-07-01
影响因子：
22.4
通讯作者：
Engle, Randall W.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Shipstead, Zach;Redick, Thomas S.;Engle, Randall W.
工作记忆是一种认知系统，它与人对新信息的推理能力和对目标相关信息的直接注意力密切相关。由于工作记忆在一般认知中的核心作用，它已成为迅速增长的训练文献的焦点，这些文献试图通过对工作记忆任务的长期训练来影响广泛的认知变化。最近的研究表明，WM训练的效果扩展到一般流体智力，注意力控制和ADHD症状的减少。我们提出了一个理论动机的角度工作记忆和随后审查工作记忆训练文献中的几个问题。这些因素包括：（a）研究者倾向于使用单一任务来定义能力的变化，（B）有效工作记忆任务的不一致使用，（c）无接触控制组，（d）主观测量变化。文献综述强调了几个值得进一步研究的发现，但最终得出的结论是，有必要直接证明，WM能力的增加，在响应培训。具体来说，我们认为，培训转移到WM必须使用更广泛的任务，从而消除了可能性，结果可以解释任务特定的学习。此外，我们对许多最有希望的结果（例如，智力增加）不能轻易归因于WM能力的变化。因此，未来研究的一个关键目标是揭示导致培训转移的机制。
Working memory (WM) is a cognitive system that strongly relates to a person's ability to reason with novel information and direct attention to goal-relevant information. Due to the central role that WM plays in general cognition, it has become the focus of a rapidly growing training literature that seeks to affect broad cognitive change through prolonged training on WM tasks. Recent work has suggested that the effects of WM training extend to general fluid intelligence, attentional control, and reductions in symptoms of ADHD. We present a theoretically motivated perspective of WM and subsequently review the WM training literature in light of several concerns. These include (a) the tendency for researchers to define change to abilities using single tasks, (b) inconsistent use of valid WM tasks, (c) no-contact control groups, and (d) subjective measurement of change. The literature review highlights several findings that warrant further research but ultimately concludes that there is a need to directly demonstrate that WM capacity increases in response to training. Specifically, we argue that transfer of training to WM must be demonstrated using a wider variety of tasks, thus eliminating the possibility that results can be explained by task specific learning. Additionally, we express concern that many of the most promising results (e.g., increased intelligence) cannot be readily attributed to changes in WM capacity. Thus, a critical goal for future research is to uncover the mechanisms that lead to transfer of training.