Research-based

Cogmed Working Memory Training is validated by neuropsychological tests and published in
peer-reviewed scientific papers.

Proven Effect on Working Memory and Attention

Cogmed is a personalized digital training program, designed to improve the brain systems responsible for attention and working memory.

Working memory is closely related to control of attention, and uses, in part, the same regions of the brain. Cogmed training is specifically developed to target these brain regions (1). It is the only digital tool that has been shown to improve attention in everyday life. The improvements are equivalent to two years of normal cognitive development of working memory in children.

Long-lasting Effect

Many conditions are associated with cognitive impairments affecting working memory and attention. Through peer-reviewed studies, using neuropsychological testing, it has been shown that Cogmed training can significantly reduce these cognitive impairments in individuals (2).

This includes children and adults with ADHD, children who have received cancer treatment, children born prematurely and adults who have suffered a stroke. In many cases, the behavioral improvement remediates the cognitive function into the normal range (3, 4). Most importantly, research shows that the effects of Cogmed training are long-lasting (5).

Improves Academic Performance

Working memory is key for academic performance, including in mathematics. In a recent study of 572 typically developing children, randomized to training or teaching as usual, Berger et al. found that one year after Cogmed training, the difference in mathematical performance between the training group and control group was equivalent to 1 year of normal improvement in secondary school (6). This is about twice as large as the improvements seen after reducing the number of students in a classroom. Three years after the Cogmed training, the children in the training group had a 50% higher chance of getting into the academically more advanced school-track compared to their peers. 

Detailed Research Summary

For a full summary of the research literature, please download the Cogmed Research Summary document.

Get Cogmed

For Yourself or Your Family

If you want to use Cogmed to improve your own attention.

For Families
For Your Clinic

If you want to use Cogmed with clients in your practice.

For Clinicians
For Your School

If you want to implement Cogmed in your school district or classroom.

For Schools

Works Cited

1. Olesen PJ, Westerberg H, Klingberg T (2004) Increased prefrontal and parietal activity after training of working memory. Nat Neurosci 7:75-79.
2. Spencer-Smith M, Klingberg T (2015) Benefits of a working memory training program for inattention in daily life: a systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One 10:e0119522.
3. Klingberg T, Fernell E, Olesen PJ, Johnson M, Gustafsson P, Dahlstrom K, Gillberg CG, Forssberg H, Westerberg H (2005) Computerized training of working memory in children with ADHD--a randomized, controlled trial. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 44:177-186.
4. Bigorra A, Garolera M, Guijarro S, Hervas A (2015) Long-term far-transfer effects of working memory training in children with ADHD: a randomized controlled trial. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry.
5.  Conklin HM, Ashford JM, Clark KN, Martin-Elbahesh K, Hardy KK, Merchant TE, Ogg RJ, Jeha S, Huang L, Zhang H (2017) Long-Term Efficacy of Computerized Cognitive Training Among Survivors of Childhood Cancer: A Single-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial. J Pediatr Psychol 42:220-231.
6. Berger EMF, E.; Hermes, H.; Schunk, D.; Winkel, K.; (2020) The impact of working memory training on children’s cognitive and noncognitive skills. In: SSRN.

200,000+

users

20+

countries

120+

published articles

"In our practice, we saw student after student go through the Cogmed program and find that they could now better manage their lives."

"I started feeling the benefits pretty quickly. I was staying engaged and focused for much longer in class, my memory was getting sharper, and that kind of brain fog that comes with a concussion was clearing up."

"Coming across this program was really a blessing, because it's hard to find
something that's as scientifically based as Cogmed is."