Computerized Working Memory Training in Group and the Effects of Noise: a Randomised Pilot Study with 7 to 9 year old Children

Abstract: The current study examines the effects of a computerised Working Memory (WM) intervention in elementary school children when training in groups of various sizes. It further examines the effects of noise during the performance of WM tasks. The children included were 7 - 9 years old and were randomly assigned to control and training groups based on Raven's scores. Results showed an improvement of verbal WM, backward digit span task, and of visuospatial WM, on the visuospatial span task. Furthermore, the results indicated that group size and performance in the interventions exercises had a greater influence on visuo-spatial WM performance than on verbal WM performance. The results of the study also suggest that computerized WM training in group is less than optimal. Regarding noise, the visuospatial WM task showed an interaction effect with noise when all participating children were divided into two groups based on teacher rated school achievement. Noise influenced the results positively in average/high school achievers while not in low school achievers.