title: A Short Executive Function Training Program Improves Preschoolers' Working Memory.
abstract: Cognitive training has been shown to improve executive functions (EFs) in middle childhood and adulthood. However, fewer studies have targeted the preschool years-a time when EFs undergo rapid development. The present study tested the effects of a short four session EF training program in 54 four-year-olds. The training group significantly improved their working memory from pre-training relative to an active control group. Notably, this effect extended to a task sharing few surface features with the trained tasks, and continued to be apparent 3 months later. In addition, the benefits of training extended to a measure of mathematical reasoning 3 months later, indicating that training EFs during the preschool years has the potential to convey benefits that are both long-lasting and wide-ranging.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, The University of Sheffield , Sheffield, UK.
authors.forename: Emma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Blakey
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, The University of Sheffield , Sheffield, UK.
authors.forename: Daniel J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Carroll
keywords: cognitive control; executive functions; mathematics; preschoolers; training; working memory