N-Back Training: A Secret Weapon for Boosting Fluid Intelligence?

Decades of cognitive neuroscience research support the effectiveness of the N-Back test. Jaeggi et al. (2008) published groundbreaking research in PNAS showing that dual N-Back training significantly improves fluid intelligence, with 19 days of training leading to improved intelligence test scores. A large-scale study by Owen et al. (2010) with over 11,000 participants confirmed that working memory training leads to task-specific improvements and some transfer to related cognitive abilities. Klingberg (2010) demonstrated that working memory training, including N-Back exercises, produces measurable changes in brain activity and can be particularly beneficial for individuals with ADHD.