"Cognitive Training: A Field in Search of a Phenomenon", Gobet & Sala 2022

[Gwern Branwen]

"Cognitive Training: A Field in Search of a Phenomenon", Gobet & Sala
2022: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/17456916221091830

> Considerable research has been carried out in the last two decades on the putative benefits of cognitive training on cognitive function and academic achievement. Recent meta-analyses summarizing the extent empirical evidence have resolved the apparent lack of consensus in the field and led to a crystal-clear conclusion: The overall effect of far transfer is null, and there is little to no true variability between the types of cognitive training. Despite these conclusions, the field has maintained an unrealistic optimism about the cognitive and academic benefits of cognitive training, as exemplified by a recent article (Green et al., 2019). We demonstrate that this optimism is due to the field neglecting the results of meta-analyses and largely ignoring the statistical explanation that apparent effects are due to a combination of sampling errors and other artifacts. We discuss recommendations for improving cognitive-training research, focusing on making results publicly available, using computer modeling, and understanding participants’ knowledge and strategies. Given that the available empirical evidence on cognitive training and other fields of research suggests that the likelihood of finding reliable and robust far-transfer effects is low, research efforts should be redirected to near transfer or other methods for improving cognition.

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gwern
https://www.gwern.net

[Ivan Antxt]

Maybe I don't understand the term "far transfer", but my findings by over decade training in NBack is that it affects quite everything in one's life

P.S. And thanks a lot, Gwern, for you perfect site, I've used it a lot for studying about NBack

вторник, 9 августа 2022 г. в 10:59:02 UTC-4, Gwern Branwen:

[blade killer]

The point with N-back is that no one of the meta-analysis studies and other failed replication knows how N-back training works.

Most of them don't even use Adaptive N-back training which is insane, also the 80% cutoff for leveling up is quite unrealistic and I think 100% 5 times in a row should be the cutoff for leveling up.

You should strive for perfection and not just try training, see there are no results in far-transfer and claim that it does not work.

Also, a lot of the replications are done for a short time, the participants are not experiencing the real challenge when doing N-back training.

My personal opinion is that, you should pass your peak N-back level to see the real benefits from the training, and by peak level I mean the level when you get stuck on for multiple months (2+ months for example).

I think if each of the studies is performed under the above conditions, they will find strong far transfer.