About one year ago, an article titled "Improving Fluid Intelligence with Training on Working Memory," was published by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The article described an experiment in which researchers used a computer program to improve subjects' working memory. The reason for the experiment was to test the researchers' hypothesis that a relationship between working memory capacity and Fluid Intelligence exists.
The article explains that Fluid Intelligence, notated in research literature as Gf, involves one's ability to identify patterns, solve puzzles, learn new things, and to process information rapidly (p 1). It is contrasted with Crystallized Intelligence (Gc) which is characterized by the total quantity of facts one has learned in his lifetime. If one wishes to increase his Crystallized Intelligence, he would need simply to put forth the effort necessary to learn new concepts, skills, and relationships. Experts have suggested that Fluid Intelligence, on the other hand, cannot be increased intentionally (p 1). If the results of this study are correct, however, those experts might have to revise their position. The results of the study showed a positive correlation between the quantity of time subjects invested training their working memories with the computer program and their performance on a test of Fluid Intelligence.
The purpose of this blog is to explore issues related to multitasking, task switching, and technology--not intelligence. The article referred to above is relevant to this blog. The computer program used to train the subjects required them to multitask. Here is roughly how it worked: The computer screen that subjects viewed displayed a small square that changed to 1 of 6 different positions every 3 seconds. Simultaneously, the subjects' headphones played 1 of 6 spoken letters. Users were instructed to observe the position of the small square and to associate that position with the spoken letter. If the same letter and position recurred, subjects were to press a button indicating they noticed a repeated combination. Each time the subjects identified a match correctly, the computer increased the level of difficulty by placing more distractors between matches. Clearly subjects were required to perform and attend to multiple cognitive processes concurrently for this experiment.
The study also showed that each training session produced improved performances by the subjects. The researchers believed that their subjects' working memories were improving. It also seems reasonable, however--given the nature of the training task--to say that the subjects' capacity for multitasking improved at each training session. As yesterday's post implied, working memory capacity seems to be the arena in which multitasking is performed.
With each post, it seems more evidence suggests multitasking is possible and that it can be improved with computer-based training, as can task switching. What are the limits? What about training that is not so contrived, like video games? There's only one way to find out...back to the virtual books!
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
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As I need all the help I can get, this is excellent news. However, if it is the case, that multitasking and fluid intelligence can be improved with computer based-training, I wonder if this is already happening to some gamers without realizing it? Of course they may be too busy with game play to realize the effects of cognitive improvements in their real life. Also, I would like to see these finding related to base intelligence or IQ. In other words, do you need a certain level of cognitive ability before training and practice can improve your abilities?
ReplyDeleteHi Trace,
ReplyDeleteI have come across a few studies that shed light on some of your comments, but I've only read the abstracts so far, so I don't know the details. One study showed that people who possess naturally high cognitive processing ability are more likely to be gamers than people who do not possess the same ability. Other studies have suggested that both gamers and non-gamers can improve their task switching capacity, their working memory capacity, and their visual span by playing video games. The preponderance of studies I've browsed so far use first person shooter games which typically overwhelm users with visual and auditory input. I'm not a fan of those games, so I would like to see new games that require equal processing power sans violence. As soon as I find a good one, I plan to do a little experimenting on myself, because I need all the help I can get!
Thanks again for your questions,
Michael Misha