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A study conducted by Martin Buschkuehl and Susanne Jaeggi in John Jonides’s lab at the University of Michigan indicates that it is possible to improve on measures of fluid intelligence by training working memory.

The concept of fluid intelligence (gF) as defined by its founder Raymond Cattell is “the ability to perceive relationships independent of previous specific practice or instruction concerning those relationships.” Fluid intelligence contributes to abilities like learning and problem solving. It is distinct from its counterpart, crystallized intelligence (cF) which involves “abilities that have obviously been acquired, such as verbal and numerical ability, mechanical aptitude, social skills, and so on.”

Fluid intelligence tests usually entail completing visual patterns of some kind. Performance on such tests typically declines after reaching a peak in early adulthood. This study, however, offers evidence that it’s possible to improve fluid intelligence.

The researchers used a computer-based working memory task called the Dual N-Back to simultaneously administer auditory and visual stimuli in sequence. A response was required whenever one of the presented stimuli (visual or auditory) matched a previously presented stimulus n positions back in the sequence. Four groups trained daily for either 8, 12, 17 or 19 days, with each group being matched by a control group that did not have training. Pre and post tests of fluid intelligence were given to all groups.

What the study found:

- The working memory training significantly improved performance on the fluid intelligence tests.
- Fluid intelligence performance improved in proportion to the amount of training received.
- Working memory (as measured by digit span) also improved significantly.

The authors suggest that the above effects were due primarily to an increased ability to control attention.

The Dual N-Back training program used in this study is now available here on Lumosity. This web-based version of the software is being used in ongoing research into the effects of working memory training on intelligence.

Why Lumosity Brain Training?

The brain needs care just like the body

New scientific research shows that we can improve the health and function of our brains with the right mental workouts.

Scientifically designed brain fitness program

Lumosity is designed by some of the leading experts in neuroscience and cognitive psychology from Stanford and UCSF.

Demonstrated to improve memory and attention

Lumosity was shown to improve basic cognitive functions in randomized, controlled clinical trials.

Lumosity Users Have Reported:

  • Clearer and quicker thinking
  • Improved memory for names, numbers, directions, etc.
  • Increased alertness and awareness
  • Elevated mood
  • Better concentration at work or while driving

Real Lumosity Intelligence Improvement Stories

"When I was first introduced to Lumosity by a friend, I thought it was just another online gaming site. Because I am a PhD student, I was pretty confident about my intellectual capacity when I started playing Birdwatching. But the score turned out to be not good at all. Offering a variety of games emphasizing different cognitive abilities, Lumosity actually helped me realize that being a scientist doesn't really have every part of my brain sufficiently exercised. My BPI increased from 1000 to 1400 in the past year, and I feel I still have a lot room to improve. This is not just a matter of number, but has truly changed my life. I feel mentally energetic after finishing the Lumosity course everyday. Being able to think fast and focus, I would even say Lumosity may help me get my degree earlier."

- Max Shi, Age 27, New York


"I was always a sharp kid in school. Teachers told me I could be anything, inviting me to jump grades. After college came seven years of searching for what to become and what to do with myself. I tried a lot of different things, among others I worked the nights shift as a hotel receptionist. This continued for 3 years. Staying up all night blurred my thinking. The line between wake and dream became thin. I sometimes found myself coming up with a task and moving to the other side of the reception to handle that task, only to have forgotten what I was about to do.

Now, I'm studying to become a doctor. My cognition is clear, my memory is back on track (maybe not as adhesive as back in the days, but hey, I´m soon turning 30, give the old guy a break...), and I go about with my studies without worries. Lumosity truly is fantastic. Nowhere else do I find the possibility to rehearse my mental abilities as effectively, as structured, and as playfully as with these games presented. I'm basically just enjoying myself - and in turn I find my world and everyday becoming more and more illuminated. How can you resist that?"

- Hakan Leeman, Age 28, Sweden


"The fact that Lumosity came into my life at the right time is miraculous. It is just what my brain needed! I am a writer and was experiencing extreme writers block. Then by some miracle Lumosity came into my life. At the beginning I was curious yet skeptical - how could games that are such fun be helpful to developing and enhancing cognitive abilities? As the weeks went on I noticed some differences. Initially at the beginning, they were subtle. But then the changes became extreme. I could think more clearly and creatively after doing many of the Lumosity exercises. I did one training session a day in the morning after my cup of coffee for several months. My ability to think creatively was now coming back to me and becoming very apparent to me to as a direct result of the Lumosity exercises. I know this as a FACT. My memory has improved, too - no more lists to the grocery store. I am convinced that Lumosity has had a direct impact on the path my life has taken. I have never been happier, busier, and more satisfied. Thank you Lumosity, for helping me live the kind of life I always dreamed of!"

- Dayna Aamodt, Age 34, British Columbia

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