Table 3 Description of the 12 modules in Cogmed® Working Memory Training

 Input module (numbers)

A panel with 1 to 9 is shown. Numbers are presented aurally and light up on the panel sequentially. Participants then have to click on the numbers in the reversed sequence.

 Input module with lid (hidden numbers)

Same as previous task, except numbers are presented aurally only, since they are covered by a lid, which opens when all the numbers are read.

 Stabilizer (letters)

A circle of lamps is shown. A sequence of letters is presented aurally along with specific lamps that light up. Participants are then presented with a letter in the middle of the circle, and have to click on the lamp that lit up.

 Decoder

Letters are read sequentially along with a lamp that lights up. The participant then has to reproduce the sequence by selecting one letter from three possible letters below each lamp.

 Visual data link (grid)

Lamps light up sequentially in a 4 × 4 grid, and the participant must reproduce the sequence by clicking on the lamps in the same order afterwards.

 Rotating data link (rotating grid)

Same as the grid task above, except that after the lamps light up, the entire board rotates 90° and the participant has to click on the sequence of lamps in the rotated grid.

 Data room (three-dimensional grid)

Lamps will light up sequentially in a three-dimensional box (view from the front), with four lamps per plane, and the participant must reproduce the sequence by clicking on the lamps.

 Three-dimensional cube

The program zooms in on different planes of a cube (four squares on the back and two squares on the other planes) as they light up sequentially. The participant must click the squares in the correct order.

 Rotating (rotating dot)

Lamps light up sequentially on a circle, which rotates slowly clockwise, and the participant has to reproduce the sequence by clicking on the lamps on the moving circle.

 Sorter

Boxes open to reveal numbers out of order and the participant must click on the boxes in the correct numerical order.

 Asteroids

Asteroids light up sequentially while moving around the screen and the participant must reproduce the sequence by clicking on the moving asteroids.

 Space whack

Craters emit puffs of smoke sequentially. The participant must remember the order that the puffs appeared, in order to click on the alien that will pop out of the crater in the same sequence.