A comparison of the effectiveness of mindfulness training and computerized working memory training in improving working memory performance of healthy adults in the age range between 18 and 55 years

Participants are asked to fill in 4 online questionnaires of memory, mindfulness, attention, mood and mind-wandering, and complete two online tasks of working memory and reasoning ability prior to training. Participants are asked to complete similar tests after the training is completed. After completing baseline measures, participants are then randomly assigned to either of the training groups (mindfulness training or computerised working memory training). Working memory training group is our intervention group and participants in this group will complete their training from the DREAM website by playing CrushStations game. The game is based on the principles of n-back task, a measure of working memory capacity popularly used in working memory training research. Different types and colors of ocean animals will be displayed on participant's screen, and at a later recall test, participants will be asked to recall and remember types and colors of ocean animals. Group 2 is our active control group where participants will complete mindfulness training via the Mindfulness Coach Explorer app. Participants will practice open monitoring and focused attention types of meditation during their training. Both groups will train for 21 minutes in each sitting, for 4 days a week and for 6 weeks altogether. It is hypothesised that working memory training group will show improved performance at post-test on the measures of working memory and reasoning ability, whereas mindfulness training group will show improved performance on the measures of mood, mind-wandering, and mindfulness trait.