TY - JOUR
T1 - Cognitive Training Does Not Enhance General Cognition
AU - Sala, Giovanni
AU - Gobet, Fernand
N1 - Funding Information:
We thank Walter Boot, Zach Hambrick, and Dan Simons for providing insightful information about cognitive-training programs and the structure of intelligence.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 Elsevier Ltd
PY - 2019/1
Y1 - 2019/1
N2 - Due to potential theoretical and societal implications, cognitive training has been one of the most influential topics in psychology and neuroscience. The assumption behind cognitive training is that one's general cognitive ability can be enhanced by practicing cognitive tasks or intellectually demanding activities. The hundreds of studies published so far have provided mixed findings and systematic reviews have reached inconsistent conclusions. To resolve these discrepancies, we carried out several meta-analytic reviews. The results are highly consistent across all the reviewed domains: minimal effect on domain-general cognitive skills. Crucially, the observed between-study variability is accounted for by design quality and statistical artefacts. The cognitive-training program of research has showed no appreciable benefits, and other more plausible practices to enhance cognitive performance should be pursued.
AB - Due to potential theoretical and societal implications, cognitive training has been one of the most influential topics in psychology and neuroscience. The assumption behind cognitive training is that one's general cognitive ability can be enhanced by practicing cognitive tasks or intellectually demanding activities. The hundreds of studies published so far have provided mixed findings and systematic reviews have reached inconsistent conclusions. To resolve these discrepancies, we carried out several meta-analytic reviews. The results are highly consistent across all the reviewed domains: minimal effect on domain-general cognitive skills. Crucially, the observed between-study variability is accounted for by design quality and statistical artefacts. The cognitive-training program of research has showed no appreciable benefits, and other more plausible practices to enhance cognitive performance should be pursued.
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U2 - 10.1016/j.tics.2018.10.004
DO - 10.1016/j.tics.2018.10.004
M3 - Review article
C2 - 30471868
AN - SCOPUS:85056873872
SN - 1364-6613
VL - 23
SP - 9
EP - 20
JO - Trends in Cognitive Sciences
JF - Trends in Cognitive Sciences
IS - 1
ER -