Working Memory Training Course

Lesson 1 • Measuring Baseline Working Memory

Introduces standardised assessment tools for establishing pre-training capacity. Connects measurement to goal-setting for the training programme.

Lesson 2 • The Multicomponent Model

Covers Baddeley's phonological loop, visuospatial sketchpad, central executive, and episodic buffer. Provides the structural framework used throughout the course.

Lesson 3 • Neurological Basis of Working Memory

Maps working memory processes to prefrontal cortex and parietal regions. Grounds training rationale in brain plasticity and neural evidence.

Lesson 4 • Working Memory Across the Lifespan

Examines developmental trajectories from childhood through ageing. Helps learners contextualise individual differences they will encounter in training populations.

Lesson 1 • Chunking and Information Grouping

Teaches chunking as a method to compress multiple items into single meaningful units. Directly expands effective working memory capacity without altering biological limits.

Lesson 2 • Identifying Overload Triggers

Trains recognition of environmental, task, and emotional factors that spike cognitive load. Enables proactive intervention before performance degrades.

Lesson 3 • Cognitive Load Theory Essentials

Defines intrinsic, extraneous, and germane load and their effects on working memory. Establishes the theoretical basis for all load-reduction techniques in this chapter.

Lesson 4 • Prioritising Under High Load

Develops decision rules for selecting which information to hold in working memory under pressure. Bridges load theory to applied performance in demanding environments.

Lesson 1 • Sustained Attention Exercises

Introduces progressive drills for maintaining focus over extended periods. Builds the endurance needed for complex, multi-step working memory tasks.

Lesson 2 • Attention as a Working Memory Gateway

Explains how selective attention determines what enters working memory. Establishes attention control as a trainable prerequisite for effective memory performance.

Lesson 3 • Mindfulness-Based Attention Training

Applies mindfulness techniques to reduce mind-wandering and sharpen present-moment focus. Provides a portable, low-cost attention regulation tool.

Lesson 4 • Selective Attention Drills

Trains filtering of irrelevant stimuli while tracking target information. Strengthens the central executive's inhibitory control function.

Lesson 1 • Interleaving and Spaced Encoding

Applies interleaving and spacing principles to encoding sessions for durable memory formation. Demonstrates how scheduling affects working memory consolidation.

Lesson 2 • Visual and Spatial Encoding

Leverages the visuospatial sketchpad through imagery and mental mapping techniques. Adds a second encoding channel to reinforce verbal working memory traces.

Lesson 3 • Multimodal Encoding Integration

Combines visual, verbal, and kinesthetic channels into unified encoding routines. Maximises trace strength by engaging multiple working memory subsystems simultaneously.

Lesson 4 • Elaborative Encoding Techniques

Teaches connecting new information to existing knowledge to create richer memory traces. Directly improves working memory transfer to long-term storage.

Lesson 1 • Elaborative Interrogation in Recall

Uses why and how questions during retrieval to deepen understanding and memory strength. Connects retrieval practice back to elaborative encoding from the previous chapter.

Lesson 2 • Free Recall and Brain Dump Drills

Practices unguided recall of studied material to strengthen retrieval pathways. Develops tolerance for retrieval effort and productive struggle.

Lesson 3 • The Testing Effect Explained

Presents research evidence that retrieval practice produces stronger memory than re-reading. Motivates learners to replace passive review with active recall habits.

Lesson 4 • Flashcard and Cued Recall Methods

Trains systematic use of cued recall tools including flashcards and question-answer pairs. Builds a daily retrieval practice habit applicable to any content domain.

Lesson 1 • Adaptive Training System Design

Covers principles of adaptive algorithms that adjust task difficulty in real time. Enables learners to evaluate and select appropriate adaptive training platforms.

Lesson 2 • Transfer Effects of N-Back Training

Evaluates near and far transfer evidence from n-back research to real-world tasks. Helps learners set realistic expectations and supplement n-back with complementary methods.

Lesson 3 • Progressing Through N-Back Levels

Defines criteria for advancing from 1-back to higher levels based on accuracy thresholds. Teaches learners to self-regulate training difficulty for optimal challenge.

Lesson 4 • N-Back Task Mechanics

Explains the structure, rules, and cognitive demands of single and dual n-back tasks. Provides the procedural foundation for all adaptive training exercises in this chapter.

Lesson 1 • Team-Based Working Memory Demands

Addresses shared cognitive load in collaborative settings and distributed memory strategies. Prepares learners to design team workflows that reduce individual working memory burden.

Lesson 2 • Working Memory in Communication

Examines working memory demands in listening, speaking, and writing tasks. Trains strategies for maintaining message threads and reducing communication errors.

Lesson 3 • Working Memory in Decision-Making

Analyses how working memory capacity constrains and enables complex decision processes. Applies load-management and chunking strategies to improve decision quality.

Lesson 4 • Working Memory in Learning New Skills

Maps working memory's role in procedural and declarative skill acquisition. Applies encoding and retrieval strategies to accelerate professional skill development.

Lesson 1 • Monitoring and Adjusting the Programme

Establishes review cycles and adjustment triggers for ongoing programme optimisation. Builds a habit of data-driven self-coaching throughout the training period.

Lesson 2 • Selecting Training Techniques

Guides evidence-based selection of encoding, retrieval, attention, and adaptive exercises. Matches technique choice to individual goals and available practice time.

Lesson 3 • Structuring Weekly Training Sessions

Designs a weekly schedule balancing intensity, variety, and recovery for optimal adaptation. Applies spacing and interleaving principles to the full training calendar.

Lesson 4 • Self-Assessment and Goal Setting

Uses baseline assessment data to identify personal working memory strengths and gaps. Translates assessment results into specific, measurable training goals.