Positive relationship in task performance does not predict positive transfer in working memory training

抄録

Previous optimism that working memory (WM) training may induce wide-reaching cognitive benefits was driven by strong positive correlations between WM and complex cognition. However, using a two-phase training paradigm, we found that such relationships do not guarantee positive transfer in WM training. In Phase 1, participants were trained on either the backward digit or circle span or an active control task. In Phase 2, all participants were trained on the backward letter span. Results showed that Phase 1 performance on both the backward digit and circle span significantly predicted Phase 2 performance on the backward letter span. However, while backward digit span training led to positive transfer to Phase 2 backward letter span performance, backward circle span training resulted in negative transfer. These findings suggest that although task relationships reflect shared structural components, they do not determine transfer direction. This challenges the assumption that high pre-training correlations predict beneficial outcomes.