Training working memory at or near capacity enhances working memory and changes the brain. To investigate how dopamine levels relate to working memory, scientist recruited thirteen participants to ardently train their minds for 35 minutes per day over five weeks. Measures of both verbal and spatial working memory, along with brain scans using fMRI and PET technology, demonstrated that each participant enhanced his or her working memory, and that the enhancement related to changes in dopamine brain chemistry. Not only did the participants train their minds, but they also changed their brains. (McNab, 2009)

Source: McNab, F., et al. (2009). Changes in cortical dopamine D1 recepta binding associated with cognitive training. In Science Magazine, 6 February 2009, v323, no.5915, pp800-802. USA.

Here’s an excerpt from the Jaeggi study:

“Beyond the psychopharmacology, there is a growing interest in whether computer and video games may increase IQ. But in contrast to suggestive advertisements, there is no empirical evidence that computer games enhance anything beyond task-specific performance (13, 14) and selective visuospatial attention (15).”

There has been some empirical evidence. For instance, playing Tetris has been shown to reduce glucose metabolic rate in the PFC after practicing on it; so this is consistent with brain efficiency theory viz. that smarter brains use less glucose in problem solving (but, the opposite is shown to be true on the hardest of all problems on the RAPM, where high ability individuals use up more glucose than the low ability group). Still, all this aside, I take their point; I’m not sure that the brain training programs really do much more than the vast majority of task-specific enhancing video games. Why I am so impressed with Tetris is because in addition to the visual spatial requirements, there’s also a planning aspect involved where the player has to think ahead of where to fit the oncoming piece. This sort of planning is an example of executive function that seems generalizable (albeit not as generalizable as the dual n-back).

The authors also write:

“Although working memory capacity and Gf may share common
variance, they are far from being isomorphic (26, 27). That
is, there are factors other than working memory capacity contributing
to individual differences in Gf.”

This gets to the heart of what I would want to know. What other aspects of executive functions (although likewise not isomorphic but share a level of variance) if improved, would lead to an increase of Gf? I posited Tetris as a good game since planning is an executive function which I think would then be generalizable to Gf (with overlapping demands), as well as a task which improves the specific ability to rotate objects spatially in one’s mind (Sf, if such a thing could exist).

The reason for my interest is I’ve been willing to do all the different games and yet only have so much time. The dual n-back is a great task for the long term training because the practice effect is more or less nil once you get the hang of it. The only way to improve at the high n levels is to be adept with updating and storage, which requires an enormous amount of concentration and therefore, Gf. Likewise, Tetris is a game that perhaps has more of a specific function than the dual n-back but might have some overlapping demands between EF and Gf.

At this time, I’d recommend only 2 games for IQ improvement and I’ve tried quite a few:

Dual n-back (either free or $46)
Tetris. (Free).

I’m not saying all the products out there are snake oil, or fruits of smoke and mirror marketing magicians, but I’m getting more and more tough in how I assess these things. Americans spend money on so much dumb stuff as it is (I’m American;-) that brain training is certainly not the worst thing to throw $ at; but it’s such a nascent industry that caveat emptor is akin to a neon sign flashing in bright red everywhere I click.

Congratulations on a new high score. Sounds like a very satisfying session.

As always I find your reflections on the broader scope of brain training and intelligence both thoughtful and thought provoking.

My own theory about the dual n-back’s apparent transfer to special skills is that it improves very basic and broadly used brain functions. Working memory and focus come into play to different degrees in pretty much every conscious mental activity. Improving them will therefore have some influence — either minor or more significant — on any task that involves conscious mental activity.

Playing a musical instrument, as a particular instance, requires a very high degree of mindful focus, and puts a big demand on working memory. It requires many other skills, too. So, improving just working memory and focus won’t transform an average musician into a master musician, but it will raise his or her level of ability.

In my own experience since I started training with Brain Fitness Pro I’ve realized that a big part of what held me back as a musician was cognitive overload. Until I’d worked on a piece long enough to fix its patterns in longer term memory I would easily get lost or overwhelmed as I played. Now when I play an unfamiliar piece I can more easily correct myself or think forward to the next set of chords. My overload threshold has risen.

I can also relate this threshold shift in playing music to the higher threshold when trying to figure out how to absorb or present a complex thought. Another great benefit of the training for me. Both seem to derive from the same place.

Martin