Working memory is an absolutely critical element to a thinking and conscious being. It is a fundamental component of fluid intelligence and working memory capacity is highly correlated with IQ. Forward and backward digit span, which measure types and components of working memory are a part of standard intelligence tests.
Fluid intelligence can be thought of as problem solving ability. It’s your ability to think and reason abstractly. Fluid intelligence declines with age.
Crystallized intelligence is made up of the facts you have learned and the experiences you have had in your life. Your vocabulary for example is part of crystallized intelligence. Crystallized intelligence typically does not decline as you age.
There are various types of working memory and there are multiple areas in the cortex that are involved in the processing of working memory. I’m aware of at least aural (auditory) working memory, visual working memory, and verbal working memory.
A while back I ran across a study of something called dual n-back memory training that was showing amazing results in increasing some kinds of working memory. What was exciting about this study was that something called transference was being demonstrated. Transference refers to the results of training on one type of task transferring to improvement in results on other types of tasks. Amazing claims were being made about the transfer effect of this type of training to improvements in fluid intelligence.
This was so promising that I searched around for some way to figure out how to get this training for myself and I found a product called Brain Fitness Pro that implemented the same training protocol that was used in the study. It trains aural and visual working memory using the n-back method. The software was only $49 and if it did even a fraction of what was claimed, I decided it was worth it and so I bought it.
I could try to explain what n-back training is but you should just go to the site and look around. I’m not in any way affiliated with this company or site. I get nothing if you decide to purchase it. I am just recommending it as a satisfied customer. My scores in the training have increased dramatically and if I am getting any transfer effect then it was worth many times it’s purchase cost.
