Cognitive Training Prevents Stress-Induced Working Memory Deficits

Abstract

Background

Working memory is a fundamental cognitive process that is critically involved in planning, comprehension, reasoning, and problem solving. Acute stress has been shown to impair working memory. This stress-induced working memory deficit has profound implications for cognitive functioning in everyday life as well as for stress-related mental disorders. Here, we tested whether a cognitive training intervention would make working memory more resistant to disruptive effects of acute stress.

Methods

In a preregistered, fully crossed between-subjects design with the factors stress (vs. control) and cognitive training (vs. sham), 123 healthy men and women (ages 18–35 years) completed a daily cognitive training program targeting working memory–related processes or a sham training over a period of 6 weeks. After this 6-week training intervention, participants underwent a standardized stress or control manipulation shortly before their working memory performance was tested.

Results

As expected, the exposure to acute stress led to a significant working memory impairment in the sham training group. Critically, although the subjective, autonomic, and endocrine stress responses were comparable in the 2 training groups, this stress-induced working memory impairment was abolished in the intervention training group.

Conclusions

These results are the first to show that a cognitive training intervention directed at prefrontal and hippocampal functioning can prevent the detrimental effects of stressful events on working memory performance.