Abstract
Mismatch between mental workload and working memory capacity can cause mental underload or overload. Adopting the Yerkes–Dodson law as the framework, functional near-infrared spectroscopy adaptive cognitive training system (FACTS) has been developed, whereby the mental workload shall never exceed an individual’s capacity, to prevent those unintended conditions. It works by monitoring mental workload in real time and performing dynamic difficulty adjustment accordingly. The feasibility study involved thirty-seven healthy participants undergoing mental arithmetic task with and without FACTS. Without FACTS, the participants not only showed higher NASA Task Load Index scores but also poorer task performance and a significant drop in DLPFC activation towards the end of the task, signifying more severe mental overload. Conversely, they continued to exhibit manifestation of productive learning with FACTS despite showing early signs of mental overload. The study results demonstrated that it is feasible to implement the concept of FACTS. The actual gains from cognitive training will be investigated in future longitudinal study.
Highlights
Working memory is defined as the set of cognitive processes in charge of temporary storage and manipulation of information to execute more complex tasks [1]
functional near-infrared spectroscopy adaptive cognitive training system (FACTS) works by monitoring mental workload in real time and adapting the task difficulty when detrimental state such as mental underload or overload is detected
The results conclude that the implementation of FACTS is feasible
Summary
Working memory is defined as the set of cognitive processes in charge of temporary storage and manipulation of information to execute more complex tasks [1]. The working memory capacity, which refers to the limited amount of information an individual can retain at a given time, plays an influential role in learning. The associate editor coordinating the review of this manuscript and approving it for publication was Chulhong Kim. memory capacity can be devoted to effective cognitive engagement and learning. Several studies have attempted to improve working memory through cognitive training. One of them has observed that trained individuals could remember more digits [2] while another study has reported enhancement in cognitive functions like speed, reasoning and memory [3]. Mental arithmetic has been proposed as an effective form of cognitive training to train working memory [6].
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