Influential Cognitive Training Studies

The 10 Most Influential Studies on Cognitive Training

The field of cognitive training is constantly evolving, with new research emerging every day. However, a few landmark studies have fundamentally shaped our understanding of the brain workout and its potential benefits. These influential pieces of research have provided the scientific foundation for much of what we know about neuroplasticity, the effectiveness of brain games, and the limitations of cognitive training. For the curious novice and the critical evaluator alike, understanding these key studies is crucial to a well-informed approach to cognitive fitness. This guide will provide a concise overview of ten of the most impactful studies, summarizing their findings and explaining their lasting legacy.

1. The ACTIVE Study (2002)

Study: The Advanced Cognitive Training in Vital Elderly (ACTIVE) study was a large-scale, randomized controlled trial that followed nearly 3,000 healthy older adults for over a decade.
Key Findings: Participants who received cognitive training showed significant improvements in the specific cognitive skills they were trained on (memory, reasoning, or processing speed). Importantly, these benefits persisted for up to 10 years after the training ended, demonstrating the long-term impact of a brain workout.
Legacy: ACTIVE provided some of the strongest evidence for the efficacy of cognitive training in older adults and its potential to maintain cognitive function over time.

2. The Jaeggi et al. Dual N-Back Study (2008)

Study: This study, led by Swiss researcher Susanne Jaeggi, examined the effects of a specific working memory task called the dual n-back on fluid intelligence.
Key Findings: The study found that participants who consistently trained on the dual n-back task for a few weeks showed a significant improvement in their scores on fluid intelligence tests.
Legacy: This study was groundbreaking because it was one of the first to provide evidence that training a specific cognitive skill (working memory) could transfer to a broader measure of intelligence (fluid intelligence). It became a highly debated and influential paper in the field.

3. The BBC Brain Test Study (2010)

Study: A large-scale, online study conducted by a team of British neuroscientists in partnership with the BBC, this experiment involved over 11,000 participants.
Key Findings: The study found that while participants who played brain games got better at the specific games they were training on, there was no evidence of a transfer effect to other, untrained cognitive tasks.
Legacy: This study provided a strong counter-argument to the dual n-back findings and highlighted the specificity of training. It fueled the public debate on whether brain games are truly effective and led to more rigorous research methods.

4. The Lumosity FTC Case and Settlement (2016)

Event: While not a scientific study, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) took action against the brain training company Lumosity for making what the FTC deemed to be deceptive and unsubstantiated claims.
Key Findings: The FTC concluded that Lumosity’s claims that its games could help users with real-world tasks and prevent cognitive decline were not supported by scientific evidence. Lumosity paid a $2 million settlement.
Legacy: This case sent a powerful message to the brain training industry. It emphasized the need for transparency and credible scientific evidence and reminded consumers to be skeptical of exaggerated claims.

5. The “Cognitive Training in Healthy Older Adults” Meta-Analysis (2014)

Study: This large-scale analysis reviewed data from 51 different studies on cognitive training in healthy older adults.
Key Findings: The analysis confirmed that cognitive training does lead to improvements in the specific skills being trained. However, it found only weak evidence for a transfer effect to other cognitive domains.
Legacy: This meta-analysis solidified the consensus that a brain workout is highly specific in its benefits and that broad claims of “making you smarter” should be viewed with caution.

6. The “Mindfulness Meditation and Brain Changes” Study (2011)

Study: A landmark study from Harvard-affiliated researchers looked at the effects of an 8-week mindfulness-based stress reduction program on the brain.
Key Findings: Participants who meditated showed an increase in gray matter in brain regions associated with memory, learning, and emotional regulation, and a decrease in gray matter in the amygdala, the brain’s fear center.
Legacy: This study provided some of the first direct evidence that practices like mindfulness, a form of brain workout, can lead to tangible, structural changes in the brain, validating centuries of anecdotal evidence with modern neuroscience.

7. The Salthouse Study on Age and Cognitive Performance (2014)

Study: This research by psychologist Timothy Salthouse examined the cognitive performance of thousands of adults of various ages.
Key Findings: Salthouse’s work, which is highly influential, consistently shows that while some cognitive abilities, like processing speed, tend to decline with age, others, like vocabulary and general knowledge, remain stable or even increase.
Legacy: This research challenges the oversimplified notion that all cognitive abilities decline with age and suggests that a brain workout for seniors should focus on maintaining a wide range of skills, not just memory.

8. The Braverman and Blanchard-Fields Study on Memory (2007)

Study: This research, published in Psychological Science, examined the link between physical activity and cognitive performance in older adults.
Key Findings: Participants who engaged in regular physical exercise showed better memory performance than their sedentary counterparts.
Legacy: This study was an early and influential piece of evidence for the inseparable link between the body and the mind, reinforcing the idea that a holistic approach to a brain workout is the most effective.

9. The Kramer and Erikson Study on Aerobic Exercise and the Hippocampus (2011)

Study: This study examined the effects of aerobic exercise on the size of the hippocampus, a brain region critical for memory.
Key Findings: Participants who engaged in 40 minutes of aerobic exercise three times a week for a year saw an increase in the volume of their hippocampus, which led to improved memory performance.
Legacy: This study provided direct evidence that exercise can increase brain volume in a key area related to memory, solidifying the idea that physical movement is a crucial component of any effective brain workout.

10. The Stern “Cognitive Reserve” Research (1990s-Present)

Study: Dr. Yaakov Stern’s pioneering research introduced the concept of “cognitive reserve.”
Key Findings: Stern’s work suggests that people with a high level of mental stimulation throughout their lives can build a reserve that helps them better withstand the effects of brain pathology, such as that associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
Legacy: This research provided a powerful “why” for engaging in a brain workout and a mentally active lifestyle, reframing the goal from a short-term improvement to a long-term investment in cognitive resilience.

These ten studies, and many others, have created a clear picture of what a brain workout can and cannot do. They have shown that cognitive training is a legitimate and powerful tool, but that its benefits are often specific and that a holistic approach is the most effective path to a vibrant, agile, and resilient mind.

Common FAQ

1. Does a single study prove anything? No. Scientific consensus is built on a body of evidence from many studies, not a single one. That’s why meta-analyses, which combine the results of many studies, are so influential.

2. Why do some studies show a benefit and others don’t? The studies often have different methodologies, sample sizes, and definitions of “transfer.” This is why it’s crucial to look at the overall body of evidence.

3. Is there a consensus on whether brain games work? The consensus is that they work to improve the specific skill being trained. The debate is on how much, if at all, those benefits transfer to other areas of life.

4. What is the biggest takeaway from all this research? The biggest takeaway is that an effective brain workout is a holistic one that includes novelty, challenge, consistency, and a combination of mental, physical, and social activities.

5. How do I know if an app is based on a good study? A legitimate app will be transparent about its science and will often cite peer-reviewed studies to back up its claims.

6. Does this mean I shouldn’t bother with brain training? No. A mentally stimulating lifestyle, which includes a regular brain workout, has been shown to be beneficial for overall cognitive health.

7. Is a placebo a bad thing? Not necessarily. If your belief in an activity’s effectiveness motivates you to be more engaged and consistent, the placebo effect is a powerful and useful force.

8. Can a brain workout help prevent Alzheimer’s? While no workout can guarantee prevention, a mentally active lifestyle can build a cognitive reserve that may help the brain better withstand the effects of the disease.

9. What’s the biggest flaw in the current research? The biggest flaw is the difficulty in measuring the transfer effect. It’s hard to prove that getting better at a game makes you better at something in the real world.

10. What is the future of this research? The future is in personalized training, where technology like AI will be used to create routines that are tailored to an individual’s specific cognitive needs, making the workouts more effective than ever.