{"id":11611,"date":"2019-01-21T06:09:50","date_gmt":"2019-01-20T21:09:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/themantic-education.com\/ibpsych\/?p=11611"},"modified":"2019-01-21T06:09:50","modified_gmt":"2019-01-20T21:09:50","slug":"can-computer-games-improve-working-memory-a-look-at-the-positive-effects-of-digital-technology-on-cognition-and-key-studies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.themantic-education.com\/ibpsych\/2019\/01\/21\/can-computer-games-improve-working-memory-a-look-at-the-positive-effects-of-digital-technology-on-cognition-and-key-studies\/","title":{"rendered":"Can computer games improve working memory? A look at the positive effects of digital technology on cognition (and key studies)"},"content":{"rendered":"

The following has been adapted from our exam revision book: IB Psychology: A Revision Guide (available here). This is relevant for the working memory model and also for the HL extension: the (positive) effects of technology on cognitive processes and the reliability of cognitive processes. In this blog we look at the positive effects of computer games and other technology on the reliability of working memory and its capacity.<\/em><\/p>\n

Working memory <\/strong>is information that we are conscious of at any one time. More specifically, it is \u201c\u2026the small amount of information that can be held in mind and used in the execution of cognitive tasks\u201d (Cowan, 2013).<\/p>\n

Before you go any further, it’s essential that you grasp what “working memory” is or the following will be difficult to comprehend. If you’re not sure, I recommend playing some working memory games<\/a> and checking out the first couple of minutes of this video<\/a> I made about the working memory model.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Working memory capacity<\/strong> refers to how much<\/strong> information we can hold in our minds at any one time. This capacity has been linked to many things, including intelligence and academic achievement. Therefore, kids with poor working memory capacity (i.e. unreliable working memory capabilities) struggle in school and often get in trouble. This is a problem for the kids, their parents and teachers so researchers have been looking at ways to help improve working memory capacity.<\/p>\n

One method that has been developed to improve working memory is the use of computer games. This has become a multi-million-dollar industry. These games are designed to be fun and engaging, like ordinary video games, but they require kids to use their working memory.<\/p>\n

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Try to solve this for x without using a pen and paper. You’ll start thinking to yourself and moving around the numbers – that little voice in your head working with the numbers if your working memory. (I don’t know the answer – perhaps someone can post it in the comments?) (Source: wikipedia)<\/p><\/div>\n

Key Study #1:\u00a0Working memory games and improved attention (Klingberg et al. 2005): <\/strong><\/h2>\n

This study demonstrates the positive applications of understanding working memory processes as it shows we can design computer games to improve the working memory capacity of children and to reduce attention problems. 42 kids with ADHD were assigned to two conditions: a computer game designed to improve working memory that gradually got harder(treatment group), or the same game but not designed to stretch their capacity (control group). The kids were expected to play the games for around 40 minutes a day, for five days a week. The kids were tested after five weeks of treatment and again after three months and the results showed that the kids in the treatment group had a significant improvement in their working memory capacity. Their parents also reported reduced symptoms of inatten\u00adtion and hyperactivity. This is one example of the positive effects of technology on the reliability of cognitive processes, in this case working memory capacity and attention.<\/p>\n