Table 1.
Effects of Working Memory Training Compared to Treated and Untreated Control Groups at Immediate Posttest
| Construct | Comparison type |
Mean effect size (g) [95% CI] |
No. of studies | Q | I² | τ² |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonverbal abilities | Training vs. treated controls | 0.05 [−0.02, 0.13] | 67 | 55.37 | 0 | 0 |
| Training vs. untreated controls | 0.20 [0.11, 0.28]** | 53 | 59.34 | 12.36 | 0.01 | |
| Verbal abilities | Training vs. treated controls | 0.05 [−0.07, 0.17] | 22 | 13.91 | 0 | 0 |
| Training vs. untreated controls | 0.03 [−0.09, 0.14] | 16 | 11.15 | 0 | 0 | |
| Word decoding | Training vs. treated controls | 0.08 [−0.09, 0.24] | 10 | 1.93 | 0 | 0 |
| Training vs. untreated controls | 0.01 [−0.16, 0.17] | 7 | 2.31 | 0 | 0 | |
| Reading comprehension | Training vs. treated controls | 0.15 [0.03, 0.27]* | 19 | 12.84 | 0 | 0 |
| Training vs. untreated controls | 0.12 [−0.07, 0.31] | 7 | 7.71 | 22.17 | 0.01 | |
| Arithmetic | Training vs. treated controls | 0.06 [−0.08, 0.19] | 15 | 7.57 | 0 | 0 |
| Training vs. untreated controls | 0.12 [0.01, 0.23]* | 14 | 6.77 | 0 | 0 | |
| Verbal working memory | Training vs. treated controls | 0.31 [0.19, 0.42]** | 60 | 123.79** | 52.34 | 0.10 |
| Training vs. untreated controls | 0.42 [0.24, 0.61]** | 38 | 130.64** | 71.68 | 0.24 | |
| Visuospatial working memory | Training vs. treated controls | 0.28 [0.16, 0.40]** | 40 | 60.51 | 35.54 | 0.05 |
| Training vs. untreated controls | 0.51 [0.34, 0.69]** | 25 | 62.82** | 61.79 | 0.11 | |
| Criterion measure | Training vs. treated controls | 0.80 [0.62, 0.97]** | 22 | 41.20** | 49.03 | 0.08 |
| Training vs. untreated controls | 1.88 [1.33, 2.42]** | 16 | 130.47** | 88.50 | 1.06 |
Note: *p < .05; **p < .01.