Transfer of working memory training to the inhibitory control of auditory distraction

Florian Kattner

doi:10.1007/s00426-020-01468-0

Abstract

Extended working memory training with the dual n-back task has been shown to improve performance on various untrained cognitive tasks, but previous findings were inconsistent with regard to the extent of such transfer. The dual n-back training task addresses multiple components of working memory as sequential information from two different stimulus modalities needs to be simultaneously encoded, maintained, continuously monitored and updated in working memory while irrelevant information needs to be inhibited. However, it is unclear which executive functions account for the observed transfer effects. In this study, the degree of inhibitory control required during training was manipulated by comparing two versions of the dual n-back task in which participants are asked to either respond or withhold a response on the less frequent trials when an item was identical to an item n trials back. Eight 80-min sessions of training with adaptive versions of both n-back tasks were shown to improve working memory updating. Moreover, in contrast to the standard n-back task, training on the inhibitory n-back task was found to reduce the interference in working memory produced by task-irrelevant speech. This result suggests that enhanced demand for inhibitory control during training enables transfer to the inhibition of distractor interference, whereas the standard n-back task primarily affects working memory updating. The training effects did not transfer to the inhibition of spatially incompatible responses in a Simon task, and it yielded no far transfer effects to untrained executive functions or measures of fluid intelligence.

Highlights

Transfer of working memory training to the inhibitory control of auditory distraction Working memory refers to a cognitive system of limited capacity which enables temporal storage and processing of information to support thought and action processes
While there is some indication that pre-potent response inhibition can be improved with practice, very little is known about the possible effects of an extended working memory training on the other forms of inhibitory control
The present study showed that an extended cognitive training with two adaptive versions of the demanding dual n-back task, varying in the degree of inhibitory control required, improved working memory capacity for the trained task, and for a different type of updating task

Summary

Introduction

Transfer of working memory training to the inhibitory control of auditory distraction Working memory refers to a cognitive system of limited capacity which enables temporal storage and processing (e.g., manipulation, monitoring) of information to support thought and action processes (see Baddeley 2003; Cowan 2017; Miyake and Shah 1999). Most models of working memory distinguish (a) one or multiple storage buffers or maintenance components from (b) a component for executive control which enables monitoring and manipulation of the stored information (Baddeley 1996, 2003; Baddeley and Hitch 1974; Engle 2002; Miyake and Shah 1999; Oberauer et al 2000) Cognitive training tasks, such as the dual n-back task, which has been shown to successfully enhance working memory capacity (i.e., the number n of items to-be-updated in working memory; see Jaeggi et al 2008), typically require both maintenance and executive control (e.g., updating) of the information in working memory, but it is still unclear which executive functions benefit most from cognitive training, and how the trainingrelated improvement is related to transfer. Far transfer was tested for unrelated executive functions (i.e., task-switching) and more generalized cognitive abilities (i.e., problem-solving skills related to fluid intelligence) for which transfer was reported previously (e.g., Jaeggi et al 2008)

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