Can you hold seven things in your mind at once?
Imagine trying to remember a phone number while following directions, listening to someone speak, or solving a maths problem in your head.
That's working memory in action.
Working memory is your brain's ability to hold, process, and use information in the moment. It's one of the most important skills for learning, concentration, organisation, and everyday life.
What Is Cogmed Therapy?
Cogmed is a cognitive training programme designed to strengthen working memory - one of the brain's most important skills for learning, attention, and everyday thinking.
Unlike memorising facts, working memory is your brain's ability to hold onto information while actively using it. It's what allows you to remember instructions, solve problems, follow conversations, and keep track of what you're doing.
💡 How is working memory useful?
Think of working memory as your brain's mental notepad.
It helps you:
✓ Remember multi-step instructions
✓ Solve maths problems in your head
✓ Read without losing your place
✓ Stay focused during tasks
✓ Connect new information with what you already know
Working memory also works alongside your long-term memory, helping you recall knowledge exactly when you need it.
Why is working memory so important?
When working memory is under strain, everyday tasks can become much harder. Children and adults may find it difficult to:
✓ Follow instructions
✓ Learn new information
✓ Read and understand text
✓ Solve maths problems mentally
✓ Stay focused in busy environments
✓ Plan, organise, and prioritise
✓ Remember appointments and belongings
✓ Hold conversations and respond appropriately
✓ Manage time effectively
✓ Think before acting
From learning to read in childhood to managing work and family life as an adult, working memory plays a vital role.
💡 Did you know?
Research has shown that working memory is closely linked with learning and academic achievement. When working memory is stronger, everyday tasks often become easier to manage.
Why is Cogmed different to brain training apps?
Cogmed is a clinical tool built on decades of cognitive neuroscience research and backed by peer-reviewed scientific studies. Research shows it can strengthen working memory, helping many people improve their attention, concentration, and mental stamina.
Who can benefit?
Working memory difficulties can affect people of any age.
They can occur on their own, but they also appear in conditions such as:
Dyslexia
ADHD
Dyspraxia (DCD)
Reading and spelling difficulties
Maths difficulties
Other conditions affecting attention and executive functioning
Improving working memory isn’t a cure, but it may help reduce some of the associated challenges and improve performance.
What Does Cogmed Training Involve?
Cogmed is a structured programme that adapts to each individual's ability, providing the right level of challenge as training progresses.
Whether you're a young child, a teenager, or an adult, the aim is the same: to gradually strengthen working memory through a series of carefully designed cognitive exercises.
Which version of Cogmed is right for you?
🧸 Cogmed Light
Designed for:
Younger children
Individuals with limited language skills
The activities are age-appropriate and engaging, helping children build working memory in a fun and accessible way.
🎯 Cogmed Standard
Suitable for:
Children aged 8+
Teenagers
Adults
This version offers a wider range of cognitive exercises that become progressively more challenging as performance improves.
💼 Cogmed Focus
For adults or returning users who want a streamlined experience, Cogmed Focus provides the same evidence-based training without the game-style reward elements.
It's a popular choice for annual "brain tune-ups" or those who prefer a more direct training format.
How does the training work?
Each session includes a variety of interactive exercises that automatically adjust to your performance.
As your skills improve, the tasks become more demanding, keeping you challenged without becoming overwhelming.
The goal is to gradually increase your brain's ability to hold, process, and use information more efficiently.
The exercises target a range of cognitive skills, including:
👁️ Visual memory - remembering what you see
📍 Visual-spatial memory - recalling locations and spatial information
👂 Auditory memory - retaining and processing information you hear
➡️ Forward sequencing - remembering information in the order it was presented
⬅️ Backward sequencing - recalling information in reverse order
🧩 Complex thinking tasks - combining memory with reasoning and problem-solving
🔤 Speech sound discrimination - recognising and distinguishing similar sounds
💡 Why is sequencing so important?
Many Cogmed activities involve remembering information in a particular order because this is an essential part of working memory that underpins skills such as:
Following multi-step instructions
Reading and spelling
Mental arithmetic
Planning ahead
Organising thoughts
For people with weaker working memory, keeping information in the correct sequence can be especially challenging. Regular practice helps the brain become more efficient at managing and connecting information, making everyday learning and thinking easier.
⭐ Keeping children motivated
Both Cogmed Light and Cogmed Standard include optional reward activities, such as building on Cogmed Island. These are designed to celebrate progress and help maintain motivation throughout the training programme.
The rewards are separate from the cognitive exercises - they're simply a fun way to recognise and reward effort and consistency.
Every programme is personalised
No two people complete exactly the same training.
Cogmed continually adapts the level of difficulty based on each user's performance, ensuring every session is appropriately challenging and tailored to individual progress.
What to expect
Approximately 5 weeks of guided training*
Sessions completed from home
Interactive exercises that adapt to progress
Ongoing support from a qualified Cogmed coach
Progress tracked throughout the programme
*Where appropriate, training can be spread over a longer period to better suit individual learning needs and schedules.
Technology requirements
For the best experience, you'll need:
✔ A reliable internet connection
✔ A desktop or laptop computer
✔ A modern web browser
✔ A handheld mouse (recommended)
Although Cogmed can run on a range of devices, we generally recommend using a desktop or laptop computer. The larger screen and more precise controls help minimise distractions and make the training more comfortable and effective.