How does training of the working memory effect the memory performance in young people?

Abstract

One of the quality indicators of the medical education is a good study performance, which is very much influenced by the capacity of the working memory. Recent studies have reported that working memory can be improved by training. In this study, we were looking for association between the training of the working memory and its performance in healthy students at Kazakh National Medical University. A total of 676 students participated: 346 in study group and 346 – in control. Reading span test (RST) was used for working memory training and Dual N-back test was used for measurement of results. According to the results obtained, one-and-a-half-month RST training of the memory (RAM) statistically significantly increases the amount of the working memory on average by 12.3 %: min on 9.9 %; max on 15.5 % (р<0.001). Тhe present study examined the relationship of the working memory training and increase in its level in healthy young adults. Our findings indirectly confirm that training not only increases the level of the working memory, but also stimulates other cognitive functions: improving auditory and spatial memory in parallel to the visual one.