Age Related Performance Differences with Dual n-Back

Earlier this year a study investigated whether the dual n-back task gets more difficult as we age. The conclusion: It does.

Taking two groups of trainees — the first ranging in age from 50–64 years, with a mean age of 55.6, and the second ranging in age from 19–28 years, with a mean age of 21.8 — the researchers compared their performance on single n-back and dual n-back tasks. (The n-back tasks used matched the Mind Sparke training — letter and grid sequences.)

At single n-back the researches found no significant difference between the two groups. However, with dual n-back they did find significant differences, with the older group doing less well at the training.

The researchers concluded that in the older group, age-related cognitive decline made the dual n-back task more challenging. I’d say this has been borne out by the experience of Mind Sparke customers. The good news is that training with Mind Sparke can head off this decline or help reverse it. The other good news is that we’re adding new exercises to the Mind Sparke training program to help people ease into the training, building up focus and processing capacity before they tackle the dual n-back training.

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