Effects of Gender and SES on Training Efficiency using Digitized Working Memory Games

Event: Undergraduate Research Symposium
Date: May 18, 2019
Location: UCI Student Center
 
Presenters: Galila Assefa, Elizabeth Carlisle, Tommy Chee, Daniel Milton
Mentors: Susanne Jaeggi, Seung Moon

Title: Effects of Gender and SES on Training Efficiency using Digitized Working Memory Games

Abstract

​Extensive research suggests potential benefits on game-based cognitive training interventions, improving accessibility and usage in the digital world. Previous studies have examined the use of “dosages of training” to indicate a gained fluid intelligence. This literature discusses the frequency of training that is most efficient for working memory training; however, it does not distinguish what training type is most effective. The purpose of this study is to assess whether cognitive training with a gamified n-back task can induce transfer effect on reasoning skills measured by matrix reasoning tasks. Two different forms of N-back games will be used to test the efficacy of training types: multisensory and basic N-Back. Those conditions will be compared to a passive group that does not undergo any N-back training. Participants in the multisensory and passive conditions improved while basic N-back worsened in performance. Furthermore, women did worse in the pretest than men, but overall they improved more than the men. Participants with lower self-reported SES performed better than participants with higher SES. This study tries to find correlation between the individual difference of gender and SES towards cognitive training by finding a specific training method that shows the most effective performance increase.

Galila Assefa, Elizabeth Carlisle, Daniel Milton, & Tommy Chee