The influence of cognitive training using mobile applications on attentional control and impulsivity among pre-service teachers - research article

Oct 15, 2026

The study investigates how cognitive training (CT) delivered through mobile applications affects attentional control and impulsivity in pre-service teachers. Participants were assigned to an experimental group (n=25) receiving CT tasks using the tower of Hanoi (TOH) and simple reaction time (SRT) over 28 sessions, and a control group (n=14) not receiving training. Criterion tasks (matching familiar figures and numerical Stroop) were used for pre- and post-testing. Results show post-test improvements favoring the training group in impulsivity-related measures and reaction-time components linked to attentional control.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages24

Reading Time1 h 0 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Cognitive training and cognitive abilities

Near transfer and cognitive domains

Executive functions measured by TOH and SRT

Reaction time as a cognitive indicator

Planning and impulsivity concepts

OPEN ACCESS Research Article Contemporary Educational Technology, 2023, 15(3), ep440 ISSN: 1309-517X (Online) The influence of cognitive training using mobile applications on attentional control and impulsivity among pre-service teachers Mohamed Atef El-Badramany 1 0000-0002-6261-4724 Mai Elsayed Khalifa 1* 0000-0001-6306-1941 Dina Samir Mekky 1 0000-0002-3623-295X Noha Mohamed Soliman 1 0000-0002-9661-954X 1 Faculty of Education, Helwan University, EGYPT * Corresponding author: [dr.maikhalifa@hotmail.com](dr.maikhalifa@hotmail.com) Citation: El-Badramany, M. A., Khalifa, M. E., Mekky, D. S., & Soliman, N. M. (2023). The influence of cognitive training using mobile applications on attentional control and impulsivity among pre-service teachers. Contemporary Educational Technology, 15(3), ep440. [https://doi.org/10.30935/cedtech/13334](https://doi.org/10.30935/cedtech/13334) ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT | Received: 5 Nov 2022
Accepted: 16 May 2023 | The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of cognitive training (CT) using mobile applications on attentional control and impulsivity among pre-service teachers. Pre-service teachers were divided into two groups: experimental (n=25) and control (n=14) groups, they were selected from a large sample (n=718) . Over 28 sessions, the training group engaged in CT tasks (the tower of Hanoi [TOH] and simple reaction time [SRT]), whereas the control group did not participate in training sessions or understand the main goal of the study. In the criterion tasks (matching familiar figures and numerical Stroop), all participants were pre- and posttested. CT using mobile applications helps us see how the trained group’s attentional control and impulsivity had influenced. we also observed the progress of trained group as measured by number of moves or time for TOH, and reaction time (RT) for SRT. Other effects were observed in comparison to a control group that underwent no training. There were changes in impulsivityin post-test in favor of training group according to number of moves, and time component of matching familiar figures test. Corresponding to attentional control, the finding indicated that there were changes in (number and size) RT component in post-test in favor of training group.
Keywords: cognitive training, mobile applications, attentional control, impulsivity, the tower of Hanoi, simple reaction time | | --- | --- | | INTRODUCTION | | Cognitive training (CT) using mobile applications is a method that involves supervised practice of activities that directly improve or preserve cognitive abilities such as memory and attention. It is founded on the premise that the brain may change for the better even as we age (Bahar-Fuchs et al., 2014) . It can be carried out on a computer or presented in person, either alone or in small groups, but it often includes employing regular practices aimed at enhancing cognitive ability (Kueider et al., 2014) . Moreover, it needs to be broken down into different categories of cognitive exercise and strategy training (Gates et al., 2011, Mowszowski et al., 2010) . It entails practicing a certain cognitive skill, which leads to improvements in the practiced task and typically in activities that are comparable to it (i.e., near transfer) . Improvement on a task that belongs to the same cognitive domain as the training task is referred to as “near transfer” (Morrison & Chein, 2011) . To improve cognitive function, it also offers structured exercise of complicated mental activities (Martin et al., 2011) . Besides that the tower of Hanoi (TOH) and simple reaction times (SRTs) in the cognitive domain have been shown to be useful tasks for examining a range of executive functions, including planning, working memory, updating, inhibition, and attentional control (Handley et al., 2002; Milla et al., 2019; Rönnlund et al., 2001; Welsh & Huizinga, 2005; Zook et al., 2004) . Reaction time (RT) is a functio

FAQs

What was the purpose of the study?

To investigate the influence of cognitive training using mobile applications on attentional control and impulsivity among pre-service teachers.

How were the participants assigned and what training did the experimental group receive?

Pre-service teachers were divided into an experimental group (n=25) and a control group (n=14). Over 28 sessions, the experimental group completed CT tasks including the tower of Hanoi (TOH) and simple reaction time (SRT).

How were attentional control and impulsivity evaluated?

All participants were pre- and post-tested with criterion tasks such as matching familiar figures and numerical Stroop, and outcomes were assessed using measures related to TOH performance and reaction time.

Oct 15, 2026

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