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Effects of Computerized Working-Memory Training with EEG-Based Assessment—

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Abstract

Purpose

Because training appears to affect working memory, early evaluation and training may help to improve working memory capacity. The aim of this study was to develop a computerized platform that employs electroencephalography (EEG) to investigate the effects of working-memory training.

Methods

The platform included two systems: (i) in the assessment system we designed n-back paradigms and estimated synchronization index between the theta and gamma bands with working memory index (WMI) verification, while (ii) in the improvement system we designed working-memory training tasks based on three categories—a numerical version of a complex-span task, a figure-based version of a task-switching task, and a matrix version of a pattern task. Twenty-eight healthy volunteers were randomly assigned to the passive control and experimental groups.

Results

Significant correlations between WMI and level of difficulty were found for the numerical complex-span task and the pattern-integration task which suggested that training can improve working memory performance. Furthermore, the EEG coupling analysis revealed significantly different in the theta-band phase and high-gamma-band power (i.e., 70–90 Hz) at FC1 which could be used to uncover relationships with the working memory.

Conclusion

The system estimating the brainwave responses provided a complementary way of quantifying the degree of working memory other than using a psychophysical questionnaire. Furthermore, it could be simply and rapidly modified for implementing different training tasks, with features of flexibility, low cost, and minimal development time.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported in part by research grants from Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST 103-2221-E-130-005-MY2, MOST 105-2420-H-130-001-MY2), Taiwan.

Funding

Not applicable.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biomedical Engineering, Ming-Chuan University, 5 De Ming Rd., Gui Shan District, Taoyuan County, 333, Taiwan

    Chia-Yen Yang

  2. Department of Occupational Therapy & Graduate Institute of Behavioral Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan

    Hsin-Yung Chen

  3. Department of Neurology and Dementia Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan

    Hsin-Yung Chen

Authors
  1. Chia-Yen Yang
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  2. Hsin-Yung Chen
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Chia-Yen Yang.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Ethical Approval

The experimental protocol was established, according to the ethical guidelines of the Helsinki Declaration and was approved by the Human Ethics Committee of Yang-Ming University (IRB Number: YM102039E).

Informed Consent

Written informed consent was obtained from individual or guardian participants.

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Cite this article

Yang, CY., Chen, HY. Effects of Computerized Working-Memory Training with EEG-Based Assessment—. J. Med. Biol. Eng. 41, 216–223 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40846-021-00600-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40846-021-00600-8

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