Working memory is a core executive function that allows information to be temporarily held in the mind and processed during a limited period of time.
It has been proven to be significant for daily functioning, such as sustaining attention in daily tasks and academic performance.
Approximately 10% of the population has working memory deficits. People with brain injury, ADHD, Down syndrome or mental illnesses are likely to have problems with this cognitive function.
There is evidence that working memory training can improve cognitive performance in people with specific conditions and that interactive tasks such as games enable its training.
Rehabilitation and stimulation programs are effective in treating disorders associated with working memory deficits. In fact, targeted computerized training has demonstrated improved working memory in several studies.
Therefore, if you are interested in exercises to improve your patients’ working memory, in this post we provide 10 worksheets to work on working memory with individuals with special needs. Specifically, 5 examples of working memory activities for adults and 5 examples of working memory activities for children, developed by NeuronUP under the principles of ecological validity and generalizability.
5 activities to work on working memory with children
Below you will find 5 exercises for children.
1. The Correct Order
What does it consist of?
In this working memory training activity for children, patients have to memorize the order of a series of images and later remember the sequence.
Unlike other NeuronUP activities where the patient must memorize a series of elements and then recall them freely, in this case we work on recognition after memorization, a fundamental task in certain pathologies.
Levels of difficulty
This working memory activity has five levels of difficulty: basic, easy, medium, difficult and advanced.
As the level advances, the patient must memorize more elements and there will be more and more similar answer options.
Format
This worksheet is available in both digital and paper format.
2. Combined Operations
What does it consist of?
This worksheet is designed for children to perform a series of linked mathematical operations in their head.
Levels of difficulty
This activity to work on working memory has five levels of difficulty: basic, easy, medium, difficult and advanced.
As the child advances in level, the operations to be performed will become more complex.
Format
This resource is available in both digital and paper format.
3. Trap the Mice
What does it consist of?
In this children’s activity the kid has to count the number of drawings present.
What does this activity work on?
In addition to working memory training, Trap the Mice also works on processing speed, sustained attention and planning, since patients have to count the mice that are in the circus as fast as they can so that they can start the show.
Activity customization
Customized modes can be created to suit the patient’s specific needs.
Parameters
In this generator you will be able to define the range of numbers.
General features
You will also be able to modify the instructions.
Format
This working memory activity for children is available in both digital and paper format.
4. Moving Pictures
What does it consist of?
This worksheet to improve children’s working memory consists of memorizing where the pictures are and press where they should be according to the instructions.
Levels of difficulty
This activity to work on working memory has five levels of difficulty: basic, easy, medium, difficult and advanced. As the level rises, the patient will have to memorize more pictures and the instructions will become more complex.
What does this activity work on?
This activity has been developed to work on working memory and spatial relation.
Format
This worksheet is available in digital and paper format.
5. The Exact Number
Next we present the last worksheet to work on working memory with children.
What does this activity consist of?
This is an activity meant to improve working memory and teach children how to count. The operating mechanism is simple and fun: children will be given an exact number of things to circle (e.g. hamburgers) and the child has to circle exactly that number of things.
Activity customization
The Exact Number is a generator, so you can customize the activity to meet the individual needs and abilities of each child.
Parameters
You will be able to define the range of amounts and the theme (random, animals, school, food and means of transportation).
General features
You can modify the instructions.
Format
This exercise is available in both digital and paper format.
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5 activities to improve working memory in adults
Did you like the worksheets to work on working memory with children? Now, we bring you five working memory activities for adults.
6. Count the Stimuli
What does it consist of?
This activity to work on working memory with adults consists of counting the number of elements (fruits) present.
What does this activity work on?
It trains working memory, as the main function, and processing speed, sustained attention and planning, as secondary functions.
Activity customization
You can customize this working memory exercise to suit the individual needs and capabilities of each patient. You can set the general aspects and parameters.
Parameters
You can customize the parameter range of numbers.
General features
You can modify the instructions.
Format
This exercise is available in digital and paper format.
7. Image Sequence Recognition
What does it consist of?
This worksheet consists of memorizing the order of a series of images and later being able to recall the sequence among several options.
Levels of difficulty
This worksheet has five levels of difficulty: basic, easy, medium, difficult and advanced.
What does this activity work on?
With this working memory training activity for adults, we are working on the recognition of processed information. In theory it should be much easier than free recall, but it is also very important to reinforce it.
Format
You can work with this activity in both digital and paper format.
8. Actions According to Numbers
What does it consist of?
In this working memory activity, patients have to carry out different actions changing according to the number.
Levels of difficulty
This resource has five levels of difficulty: basic, easy, medium, difficult and advanced. As the level rises, the patient will have to follow more complex instructions.
What does this activity work on?
- Processing speed
- Alternating attention
- Inhibition
- Working memory
Format
This worksheet to improve working memory is available in both digital and paper format.
9. Word Scramble
What does it consist of?
This activity consists of putting the letters in the correct order to make a word.
What does this activity work on?
Word Scramble trains vocabulary and working memory.
Activity customization
This working memory training activity can be customized to the specific needs of each patient.
Parameters
You can change the length of the random words or introduce personalized words that resonate more with the patient.
General features
You can change the instructions.
Format
This generator is available in digital and paper format.
10. Hit the Target Right
The last of the working memory activities for adults that we present is Hit the Target Right.
What does it consist of?
Below, we offer you a paper worksheet that consists of finding different ways of reaching a specific score by hitting different targets. Keep in mind that all the moves must be different.
Levels of difficulty
This worksheet has five levels of difficulty: from basic to advanced.
What does this activity work on?
In addition to working memory training, Hit the Target Right also works on flexibility and reasoning.
Format
This worksheet to improve working memory is available in digital and paper format.
Bibliography
The International Dyslexia Association (IDA). (2020). Working memory: The engine for learning. Retrieved March 14, 2023, from https://dyslexiaida.org/working-memory-the-engine-for-learning/
Burmester, A. (2017). Working memory: How you keep things “in mind” over the short term. Scientific American. Retrieved March 14, 2023, from https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/working-memory-how-you-keep-things-ldquo-in-mind-rdquo-over-the-short-term/
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