Working Memory And Genetic Inheritance

A new study published in the Journal of Neuroscience in July, 2011 shows that genetics plays a strong role in working memory capacity. By measuring working memory ability in sets of twins using n-back testing, the scientists found that twin sets had very similar working memory ability.

Now, the interesting thing about this result is that we also know that working memory is highly trainable. Working memory training with MindSparke can easily double or triple our working memory ability on the n-back task. This tells me that everyday mental tasks tend not to challenge our working memory intensively enough to change it. Our brains tend to coast when they can and we largely have the working memory capacity we were born with. Unless, that is, we engage in a course of working memory training!

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