Science & Society
The case for an ecological approach to cognitive training

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Strong claims have been made about the efficacy of cognitive training. In particular, the idea that working memory (WM) training enhances intelligence initially generated enthusiasm but, on further inspection, is now met with skepticism. In our view, this is an unfortunate setback due to inappropriate task design and does not refute the core idea of cognitive enhancement. Growing evidence suggests that successful training programs integrate complexity, novelty, and diversity to maximize ecological validity.

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The case for an ecological approach to cognitive training

Not a week passes without an article or a report praising the remarkable plasticity of the brain and the numerous ways it can be trained and rewired for greater accomplishment. Various incentives for brain training have been proposed, such as enhancing academic achievement, performance in the workplace, delaying cognitive decline, and preventing dementia. Furthermore, some scientists have suggested that brain training will become a normal part of our schedule in the near future, like fitness

From neuroplasticity to WM training

A brief reminder of the scientific roots surrounding cognitive training helps put recent trends in perspective. Over the past few decades, compelling evidence for neuroplasticity outside the critical period of development has opened new venues for behavioral interventions 2, 3. Taking advantage of the malleability of our neural networks across the lifespan, cognitive training has emerged as a valid alternative to more invasive interventions such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) or

Limitations of WM training

There are serious limitations to this approach. First, the architecture of WM is complex and includes two major components: domain-general and domain-specific processes. Structural equation models have demonstrated that different measures of WMC correlate strongly [9] even when testing items are different 5, 10. In other words, WMC is largely influenced by domain-general mechanisms and therefore does not vary notably depending on the type of testing item. Training upsets this equilibrium. Tasks

Working toward ecological interventions

Despite the central role of WM in human cognition, perhaps WM tasks are not the most pertinent way to train the brain. To some extent, the same applies to computerized brain training: most of the tasks included in brain-training software are impoverished and non-ecological, with few real-world applications. A close review of neurophysiological research in cognitive training indicates that tapping domain-general mechanisms [12] to induce transfer to a wide range of situations requires training

Concluding remarks

Can cognition be improved? Certainly. However, optimal training programs have yet to be designed. The notion that the brain remains malleable across the lifespan has prompted insightful and engaging research in the field of cognitive training. Given both the remarkable plasticity of the brain and the massive funding poured into cognitive training research, scientists have a responsibility to inform the public objectively, based on sound and well-designed experiments addressing the numerous

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