The near- and far-transfer effects of cognitive training on attentional networks in women and men

Abstract

ABSTRACT The study tested which attentional networks can be improved using cognitive training and whether this effect is mediated by gender differences. 181 young participants (50% woman) were randomly assigned to one of three groups: two experimental groups underwent 18 days of cognitive-training programmes relating to executive functions or temporary memory and one non-active control group. The Attention Network Test (ANT) was used twice to assess the participants’ performance before and after the training programmes. The results showed that performance in the ANT increased, but there was no improvement in the control group. Moreover, in the case of the executive functions training, there was a far transfer on some indicators of the alerting and orienting networks. Both training programmes were more effective for women than for men: in the women’s group, this difference applies to the response to each cue condition of the ANT and is much stronger than in men.