Possible evidence of near transfer effects after adaptive working memory training in persons with multiple sclerosis

• Published in: Multiple sclerosis and related disorders 2022-11, Vol.67, p.104182-104182, Article 104182
• Main Authors: Esbrí, Sónia Félix, Tirado, Alba Sebastián, Sanchis-Segura, Carla, Forn, Cristina
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: cognitive training; Information processing; Multiple sclerosis; n-back; Transfer effects; Working memory
• ISSN: 2211-0348; 2211-0356
• DOI: 10.1016/j.msard.2022.104182

•After an adaptive nback training, multiple sclerosis patients with different cognitive statuses showed improved working memory performance and enhanced information processing efficiency.•Improvements were not only observed in nback task, but were also transferred to other tests that measure working memory and information processing speed (near transfer effects).•Individualized analyses revealed that this training program resulted in general, albeit not homogenous, working memory/ information processing efficiency improvements. Cognitive deficits, especially in working memory (WM) and information processing (IP) efficiency, are common in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). Few studies have examined the efficacy of n-back training in improving these two cognitive functions in PwMS. In the present study, we examined the effects of an intensive n-back training program by measuring the gains on the trained task (2- and 3-back tasks), but we also studied possible near transfer effects to other tests that assess WM and IP, as well as far transfer effects or improvements in other cognitive functions. A sample consisting of 35 PwMS with different cognitive statuses. All the participants underwent an adaptive n-back training for 10 days (60 min/day), and they were neuropsychologically assessed at baseline (D1) and after training (D10). The effectiveness of the training was tested: (1) by using mean-based comparisons and Cohen's d values; (2) by estimating and comparing the quartile values of the D1 and D10 distributions. Two indexes of improvement in individual performance were calculated, the net score improvement index (NSI) and the percent of maximum possible individualized improvement (PMPI). Repeat practice improves 2- and 3-back performance, showing more correct responses (CR) and lower reaction times (RT) on D10 compared to D1. These results were corroborated by the NSI and PMPI scores, but the gains after training were more statistically significant for the 3-back (observing higher CR and lower RT after training) than for the 2-back (observing gains in CR, but not in RT). We also observed a possible transference of this improvement on the n-back task to other WM/IPS tests. Specifically, statistically significant pre-post training differences were found in the values in three quartiles of the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT; q25, p