Effect of working memory training on cognitive communicative abilities among young- and middle-aged adults

摘要

Objective : Cognitive training gains have been reported to be larger among young adults in comparison to older adults. However, differences in the magnitude of improvements between the earlier ages of adulthood have been less explored. In this attempt, the aim of the present study was to investigate the working memory training effects on cognitive communicative abilities among young- and middle-aged adults. Method : An interventional research design was incorporated. Thirty young- (19–40?years) and middle-aged (40–65?years) adults each, were recruited from the community and randomly assigned into the experimental and control groups. The experimental groups received 10 sessions of working memory training. Pre- and post-training assessments were performed and data was statistically analyzed. Results : The data analysis revealed no statistically significant difference in the training effects between young- and middle-aged adults, though young adults showed higher trends of improvement with training. Conclusion : The study highlights the importance of initiating working memory training at an early age to enhance or restore one’s cognitive abilities as age progresses.