New research from the Beckman Institute reveals that varied cognitive training is more effective than repetitive tasks in improving working memory in older adults. The study found that participants who engaged in multiple types of memory exercises showed the greatest improvement, compared to those who repeated the same task.
The researchers, led by Elizabeth A.L. Stine-Morrow, recruited 90 local individuals aged 60-87 and divided them into four groups. Each group completed a different type of cognitive training for two weeks, followed by a control task for the remaining two weeks. The results showed that the group that practiced multiple working memory tasks saw the most improvement on the reading span assessment from beginning to end.
Interestingly, this group was initially slower to improve on the reading span task but ultimately reached the highest peak. This suggests that varied practice leads to better learning and can lead to broader effects when combined with different skills.
The researchers propose that the principle of mutualism, or “mutual growth among closely related abilities,” may be a key factor in this improvement. This concept suggests that growth in one cognitive skill can potentiate plasticity in related skills, leading to transfer between tasks.
This study provides early evidence for the concept of mutualism and shows promise for improving working memory later in life. The researchers believe that scaling up this principle could demonstrate broader effects across different kinds of skills.
Source: https://neurosciencenews.com/memory-learning-cognitive-training-27640/